John Breckinridge was an American lawyer and statesman. He is best remembered for his service as United States Senator and presidential cabinet secretary, who served in the Continental Army during the American Revolution.
Background
John Breckinridge was born on December 2, 1760 near the present site of Staunton, Virginia. He was a son of Robert Breckenridge (the spelling of the family name was for the most part, changed in the next generation) whose father came to Virginia about 1738.
His mother was Letitia, a daughter of John Preston. Soon after his birth his family moved on westward into Botetourt County where his father died in 1772, leaving a widow and seven children in exposed frontier surroundings. Though living in as refined a home as could be found in that part of the world, Breckinridge found conditions rough and uncouth.
Education
Harboring a strong desire for learning, John managed when nineteen years of age to enter William and Mary College where he remained two years. While a student here, without his previous knowledge he was elected by the voters of Botetourt County to represent them in the legislature. This was more than an attempt of his fellow citizens to save money by designating someone as representative who happened to be residing at the seat of government. On account of his youth he was not allowed to take his seat. Twice more was he elected before he was admitted. He now decided to study law.
Career
After John Breckinridge settled in Albemarle County, the spell of Kentucky, which had seized so many other Virginians, soon gripped him. Letters from two of his brothers and from many friends who were there implored him to move to that land of hope.
He abandoned a position in Congress to which he had just been elected and crossed the mountains in 1792, settling near Lexington in Fayette County and developing an estate which he called Cabell's Dale. Here he built an office and began the practise of law. He was soon on the road to a comfortable fortune, being greatly busied with land suits.
His ablity as a lawyer recommended him to Governor Isaac Shelby who appointed him attorney-general for the state in 1795 following his defeat for the United States Senate by Humphrey Marshall. It was while he was in this position that the disputed gubernatorial election took place in 1796.
Called upon for an opinion by Benjamin Logan, who had received a plurality of the electoral vote, he refused officially to give a decision, but privately upheld Logan's position. The next year Breckinridge was elected to represent Fayette County in the lower house of the legislature and he was successively reelected until 1801, being speaker the last two years.
In 1801 he was elected to the United States Senate, but resigned in 1805 to become attorney-general of the United States, an appointment which greatly pleased the West and strengthened President Jefferson there. Breckinridge impressed himself upon the country as no other representative of the West had done up to that time.
His insistence on the rights of the West and his friendship for Jefferson had their weight in the Louisiana Purchase of 1803. Breckinridge's fighting instincts led him to work readily with Jefferson in promoting the Kentucky Resolutions of 1798. Jefferson wrote these celebrated resolutions; Breckinridge changed two of them slightly, introduced them in the Kentucky legislature, and forced their passage. The next year he introduced a new set which he himself wrote.
He died when only forty-six years of age, but his widow lived many years thereafter. There were born to them nine children.
Achievements
John Breckinridge has been listed as a reputable senator, attorney general by Marquis Who's Who.
Politics
Breckinridge believed that the national government was making little effort to open the Mississippi River, and he emphasized this belief by accepting the presidency of the Democratic Society of Kentucky, organized in Lexington the year he arrived. He also looked with favor on George Rogers Clark's plottings with Genet in their efforts to open the navigation of the Mississippi and he promised a money subscription in the undertaking.
Views
Quotations:
In 1794 he wrote, "We have sat down with patience to watch the Event of his (Pinckney's) negotiations & God send, thay may not show us that we may fight or negotiate for ourselves".
Membership
Breckinridge was a member of the Constitutional Society of Virginia.
Connections
John Breckinridge was married in 1785 to Mary Hopkins Cabell, a daughter of Colonel Joseph Cabell of Buckingham County, and immediately settled in Albemarle County. There were born to them nine children.
