Background
Breckinridge, Jefferson was born on March 8, 1800 in Cabell’s Dale, Kentucky, United States. Son of John and Mary Hopkins (Cabell) Breckinridge.
Breckinridge, Jefferson was born on March 8, 1800 in Cabell’s Dale, Kentucky, United States. Son of John and Mary Hopkins (Cabell) Breckinridge.
Attended Jefferson College, 1816-1818, Yale. Graduate Union College, Schenectady, New York, 1819.
Several children including William Campbell Preston, Joseph Campbell. Studied law, managed mother’s estate, Lexington, Kentucky, 1819-1824. Practiced law, 1824; member Kentucky Legislature from Fayette County, 1825-1828.
Death of 2 of his sons and his own severe illness caused him to join Presbyterian Church.
Defeated for Kentucky Legislature on platform of opposition to slavery, 1831. Delegate from West Lexington Presbytery to General Assembly, Cincinnati, 1831.
Licensed to’ preach, 1832. Studied at Princeton to prepare for ministry, 1832.
Pastor 2d Presbyterian Church, Baltimore, 1832-1845.
An author “Acting and Testimony” which came to divide Church into Old and New School groups by 1837. Went to Europe for health and as representative of General Assembly, 1836. Opposed slavery in heated polemic, Glasgow, Scotland.
President Jefferson College, 1845-1847.
Appointed superintendent public instruction and pastor 1st Presbyterian Church, Lexington, 1847. Increased public school enrollment ten-fold, 1847-1852.
Professor Danville Theological Seminary, 1853-1869. Supported Union cause.
Lincoln’s chief adviser and counsellor in Kentucky.
Headed Kentucky contingent to Baltimore Union Party Convention, 1864, presided over convention Author: The Knowledge of God, Objectively Considered, 1858. Also several books and pamphlets. Edited Literary and Religious Magazine, Baltimore.
Edited Danville Quarterly Review, 1861-1865.
Member Kentucky Legislature from Fayette County, 1825-1828.
Married Ann Sophronisba Preston, March 11, 1823. Married second, Mistress. Married 3d, Margret White, 1859.