pˈɪŋkni wʌz bˈɔːɹn ðə sˈɛvənθ ʌv tˈɛn tʃˈɪldɹən ˌɔn ɑːktˈoʊbɚ wˈʌn, wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd tˈuː,  ɪn lˈʌndən, wˌɛɹ hɪz fˈɑːðɚ wˈɪljəm pˈɪŋkni wʌz jˈuː.ˈɛs. ɐmbˈæsədɚ tə ðə kˈoːɹt ʌv sənt. dʒˈeɪmz.
Pinkney was born the seventh of ten children on October 1, 1802,  in London, where his father William Pinkney was U.S. ambassador to the Court of St. James.