ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd twˈɛnti θɹˈiː, pˈɪŋkni tʃˈælɪndʒd fˈɛloʊ bˈɔltɪmˌoːɹ lˈɔɪɚ ænd pˈoʊɪt, dʒˈɑːn nˈiːl tʊ ɐ dˈuːəl ɪn ɹᵻspˈɑːns tə nˈiːlz kɹˈɪɾɪsˌɪzəm ʌv pˈɪŋkniz fˈɑːðɚɹ ɪn hɪz wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd twˈɛnti θɹˈiː nˈɑːvəl, ɹˈændɑːlf.
In 1823, Pinkney challenged fellow Baltimore lawyer and poet, John Neal to a duel in response to Neal's criticism of Pinkney's father in his 1823 novel, Randolph.