Eliza Lucas Pinckney (c. 1722–1793) was the first planter to introduce the cultivation and manufacture of indigo into South Carolina (and into continental North America).

Eliza Lucas Pinckney, probably the first important agriculturalist of the United States, was born in Antigua in the West Indies in 1722.

She realized that the growing textile industry was creating world markets for new dyes, so starting in 1739, she began cultivating and creating improved strains of the indigo plant from which a blue dye can be obtained.

In 1745-1746, only about 5,000 pounds of indigo were exported from the Charleston area, but due to Eliza Pinckney's successes, that volume grew to 130,000 pounds within two years.

Indigo became second only to rice as cash crop, since cotton did not gain importance until later.

Eliza Pinckney died in 1793. She was so well regarded by her contemporaries, that President George Washington served as one of the pallbearers at her funeral.