Eliza Lucas Pinckney Transforms South Carolina's Economy
Eliza Lucas Pinckney’s agricultural experiments led to indigo developing into one of the most profitable crops in South Carolina.
Eliza Lucas
Eliza Lucas was born into an extremely wealthy family in Antigua.
She was fortunate to receive a better education than most women were afforded in the 18th century when her parents sent her to London.
Upon her return to the New World, Eliza’s family removed to plantations they had inherited in South Carolina.
Shortly thereafter, her father was appointed Lieutenant Governor of Antigua and returned to the Carribean.
Indigo
Eliza’s mother passed away shortly after her father left, positioning the 17-year-old girl at the head of three separate plantations.
Lucas took the opportunity to become one of the most successful businesswomen in colonial South Carolina.
She also began experimenting with different plants.
Eventually, Eliza successfully began raising indigo which could be used to dye clothing blue.
While this may not seem like such an important development on its face, throughout human history blue has always been a difficult color to come by in clothing.
Lucas shared her seeds with her neighbors and within five years indigo had become one of the most profitable crops in South Carolina.
Pinckney
About the time she was learning to harvest indigo, Eliza married Charles Pinckney.
Pinckney was an important leader in the colony and 23 years Eliza’s senior.
The two seemed to have a happy marriage and traveled for a time to London while Charles was acting as South Carolina’s agent.
Sadly, when they returned to North America, Charles passed away.
Founding Mother
Eliza was left to care for their three surviving children.
The two boys, Charles Cotesworth Pinckney and Thomas Pinckney, would go on to become American Founders.
Charles signed the US Constitution and Thomas negotiated the 1795 Pinckney Treaty with Spain.
Between these two brothers, Eliza was the proud mother of a presidential candidate for every election from 1796 through 1808.
Want to read about more FOUNDING MOTHERS?
Great! Check out these articles:
Phillis Wheatley - From Slave Girl to Master Poet
Martha Bratton - Explosions, Death Threats and Huck’s Defeat
The Adventures of Eliza Schuyler Hamilton
Eliza Pinckney has several biographies with ‘An Independent Woman’ coming out just last year.
If so, I recommend the American Antiquarian version, if only for the excellent introduction by Melissa Clark.
Pick up a copy through the Amazon affiliate link below…
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