<P> Busy with the war and his political career, Pinckney did not marry until 1787 . He married Mary Eleanor Laurens, daughter of Henry Laurens, the wealthy and politically powerful South Carolina merchant and slave trader . They had at least three children . </P> <P> Among his in - laws were Colonel John Laurens and U.S. Representative David Ramsay; another brother - in - law married the daughter of South Carolina Governor John Rutledge </P> <P> Pinckney was elected to the Continental Congress (1777--78). He started to practice law in Charleston in 1779 at the age of 21 . About that time, well after the War for Independence had begun, young Pinckney enlisted in the militia (though his father demonstrated ambivalence about the Revolution). He became a lieutenant, and served at the siege of Savannah (September--October 1779). When Charleston fell to the British the next year, the young Pinckney was captured and held as a prisoner until June 1781 . </P> <P> He was elected again to the Continental Congress following the war, serving 1784--87 . He was elected to the state legislature for several terms (1779--80, 1786--89, and 1792--96). As a nationalist, he worked hard in Congress trying to ensure that the United States would receive navigation rights from Spain to the Mississippi River and to strengthen congressional power . </P>

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