bˈɔːɹn ɪn lˈʌndən ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd tˈuː wɛn hɪz fˈɑːðɚ wʌz sˈɜːvɪŋ æz ɐmbˈæsədɚ tə ðə kˈoːɹt ʌv sənt. dʒˈeɪmz, pˈɪŋkni ɹᵻtˈɜːnd wɪð hɪz fˈæmɪli tə ðə juːnˈaɪɾᵻd stˈeɪts wɛn hiː wʌz ˈeɪt.
Born in London in 1802 when his father was serving as ambassador to the Court of St. James, Pinkney returned with his family to the United States when he was eight.