Pinckney, Charles Cotesworth
/ˈpiNGknē
/ (1746–1825), US statesman. As minister to France in 1797, he refused the suggestion of certain French officials that he bribe them, in what became known as the XYZ Affair. A Federalist, he ran unsuccessfully for US vice president in 1800 and for president in 1804 and 1808.