The first African American to solo-circumnavigate the globe via the Southern Capes, including Cape Horn, William Pinkney was born on September 15, 1935, in Chicago. Pinkney joined the Navy after graduating from High School. After the Navy, Pinkney worked as a union make-up artist. He then became a marketing manager for Revlon and went on to be a Public Information Officer for the City of Chicago. Throughout this time, Pinkney's real passion was sailing, and he earned a coveted U.S. Merchant Marine Officer's license. He decided to embark on a solo sail around the world in 1990, which was documented in a Peabody Award winning video. Before becoming Master of the Freedom Schooner Amistad in 2000, he set out with a crew of teachers to trace the Middle Passage slave routes to the Americas. He has been honored by senators and former Presidents, and he had the account of his feat read into the the Congressional Record. In addition, Pinkney has been awarded Honorary Doctorates from Southern Connecticut State University and Becker College in Worchester, MA. He is a Trustee of Mystic Seaport the Museum of America and the Sea and Director of the Ocean Conservancy. He and his wife Migdalia live in Connecticut.