VOL. XV.
No. 7.
BOSTON.
JULY, 1903.
WILLIAM PINKNEY. THE LAWYER. BY JOHN PHILIP HILL. THE achievements and experiences of every ing, which seems to have been nearly all he man who has aided in shaping the obtained at that time of his life. He con •political destinies of his country, and who tinued his studies, however, during his whole has at the same time attained distinguished life, and finally became well educated, both eminence at the Bar, should be of especial in English and the classics, even working on interest to lawyers. Although the public ser the latter under a tutor during his official vices of William Pinkney of Maryland may residence in London. not have made so lasting an impression as the Information concerning his early life is broader statesmanship of some of his con scant. He tried medicine, and studied in the temporaries, yet his career is one that de office of a certain Dr. Dorsey, but fortu serves to be remembered, and is particularly nately he discovered his true bent, and, under worthy of study and emulation by those who the friendly and able patronage of Judge desire success in the profession which he so Chase, began the study of law, which he kept eminently adorned. up with diligence during the whole course of Born at Annapolis, on the iyth of March, his life. 1764. he began life with none of the prestige In 1786 he was admitted to the bar, and of wealth or of powerful family connection. selected Harford County as the "arena of his His father had early emigrated to Maryland first professional efforts." He made so and located at Annapolis. The elder Pinkney favorable an impression, that two years later was a staunch loyalist, and whatever prop he was elected a delegate to the convention erty he may have had was confiscated during of the State of Maryland, which ratified the the Revolution. So William Pinkney was Constitution of the United States. In Octo early forced to rely on his own industry and . ber of the same year he was elected member strength of character, and to his diligence of the Maryland House of Delegates, and and excellent natural ability his success was here his intelligent activity and ready, con vincing eloquence soon achieved for him entirely due. His early instruction was received at the considerable reputation. One of his best King William School, an ancient academy of speeches in that period, advocating certain Annapolis, where, under the direction of a manumission privileges for the Maryland slaves, shows a style ornate and flowery in certain Mr. Brefhard, he mastered the ele ments of English, and obtained a slight places, and occasionally somewhat involved, grounding in the classics. When he was but in the main clear and strong, with a about thirteen years old the loss of his ready flow of apt words, and an interesting manner of prisentation. father's property ended this regular school
