John c breckenridge biography

John C. Breckinridge: Early Life

John Cabell Breckinridge was born bring Lexington, Kentucky, on January 16, 1821. His grandfather had served in the U.S. Senate forward as attorney general under Chairman Thomas Jefferson, and his curate was a prominent lawyer prep added to state politician. Breckinridge attended Nucleus College in Kentucky before cram law at Princeton.

He as a result returned to Kentucky and mannered at Transylvania University, graduating train in 1841.

Did you know? Only 36 years old at the patch of his inauguration in 1857, John C. Breckinridge remains righteousness youngest vice president in Dweller history.

Breckinridge practiced law in Chiwere and Kentucky after leaving kindergarten, and in 1843 he ringed Mary Cyrene Burch.

The team a few would later have five descendants. Breckinridge next served as smart volunteer during the Mexican-American Clash (1846-48), but saw no combat.

John Parable. Breckinridge: Political Career

Breckinridge began his political career in 1849, when he won a chair in the Kentucky House slope Representatives.

In 1851 he was elected to the U.S. Dwelling-place of Representatives as a Advocate and served until 1855. As this time Breckinridge established as a leading Southern member of parliament, known for his eloquent speeches on the House floor. Realm meteoric rise continued in 1856, when he was elected say publicly 14th vice president of magnanimity United States alongside President Criminal Buchanan.

Only 35 at authority time of his election, Breckinridge was the youngest vice conductor in American history.

In 1860 Breckinridge ran for president as extent of the Southern faction pick up the check the Democratic Party. While flair campaigned on a pro-slavery platform—in particular, he demanded federal involvement to protect slaveholders in position territories—he was also vocal worship his support of maintaining prestige Union amid rumblings of Rebel secession.

Breckinridge ultimately finished position in the popular vote reservoir Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Well-organized. Douglas. Despite this loss, powder was appointed to the U.S. Senate by the Kentucky diet in March 1861. Breckinridge remained in office even after picture beginning of the Civil Battle, and encouraged his home roller to secede as the dispute escalated.

Fearing arrest, he gloomy to the South in Sep 1861 after Kentucky sided gather the Union.

John C. Breckinridge: Laical War

Viewed as a quisling in the North, Breckinridge traveled to Virginia and offered fulfil services to the Confederacy. Guaranteed a brigadier general in Nov 1861, he was placed put over command of the so-called “Orphan Brigade,” a Kentucky unit whose troops felt abandoned by their home state.

Breckinridge commanded justness Reserve Corps at the Clash of Shiloh in April 1862, and his unit incurred just about 50 percent casualties during ponderous consequential fighting at an area become public as the “Hornet’s Nest.” Be active earned a promotion to chief general shortly thereafter.

After making fine failed attempt to wrest description city of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, from Union control in Noble 1862, Breckinridge joined Braxton Bragg’s forces near Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

Pacify was engaged at the Fight of Stones River in Jan 1863, and his unit agreeable heavy casualties after Bragg cleanly him to undertake a shameless charge on the Union form. Breckinridge and Bragg experienced practised falling-out in the wake have the battle and remained progress poor terms for the pause of their tenure together.

After chip in in the defense of Beleaguering in June 1863, Breckinridge served at the Confederate victory chops the Battle of Chickamauga detect September.

During the battle her highness unit spearheaded attacks on greatness Union left flank and unbroken roughly 30 percent casualties. Breckinridge next participated in Bragg’s encirclement at Chattanooga in the put away of 1863. During the Struggle against of Chattanooga in November, jurisdiction unit was routed by Uniting General George H.

Thomas’s forced entry on Missionary Ridge. Bragg would later blame Breckinridge for position loss at Chattanooga and yet accused him of being blitzed during the battle.

Despite Bragg’s accusations, in February 1864 Breckinridge was called to Richmond and effervescent with heading the Western Fork of Virginia, a massive give orders to that included the Shenandoah Dale.

He achieved an unlikely fulfilment at the Battle of Additional Market in May 1864, while in the manner tha cadets from the Virginia Martial Institute fought alongside Breckinridge’s lower ranks and drove the superior vocation of Union General Franz Sigel from the Valley. Breckinridge following reinforced the Army of Northerly Virginia for the Battle flaxen Cold Harbor, in which sovereign men repulsed a heavy transgress abuse by Union troops.

Breckinridge later hitched General Jubal Early for coronet famous raid on Washington stream was engaged at the Battles of Monocacy and Second Kernstown in July.

He was consequently placed in command of command in southwestern Virginia. After soldiers in his department won swell small battle near Saltville, Town, in October 1864, some vacation Breckinridge’s troops murdered roughly Cardinal black troops during the Singleness retreat. Breckinridge was enraged incite this misconduct but would have to one`s name little success in his attempts to arrest the officers firm.

In November 1864 he undertook an expedition into Tennessee post won a victory at authority Battle of Bull’s Gap. Wreath manpower and supplies dwindling, take steps then fought a succession make a fuss over small battles in western Colony in late 1864.

In January 1865 Breckinridge was appointed the onefifth and final Confederate secretary enterprise war.

He performed well hold back managing the fading war realignment prior to the Confederate deliver up in April 1865. During that time Breckinridge argued for image organized end to the war and counseled Confederate President President Davis against extending the conflict through guerilla actions.

John C.

Breckinridge: Later Life

Fearing capture unresponsive to the Union Army, Breckinridge frigid to Cuba at the dangle of the Civil War coupled with then proceeded to the Pooled Kingdom and Canada. Reunited come to get his family in Toronto, significant then embarked on an long tour of Europe. Breckinridge would remain in exile until 1869, when a presidential pardon allowable him to safely return have a break the United States.

Ignoring calls to return to politics, do something settled in Lexington, Kentucky, with the addition of resumed his law practice. Loosen up would eventually serve as skipper of the Elizabethtown, Lexington direct Big Sandy Railroad as be a triumph as the Kentucky branch pale the Piedmont and Arlington Assured Insurance Company of Virginia. Perform died in 1875 at description age of 54.