John c breckinridge biography

John C. Breckinridge: Early Life

John Cabell Breckinridge was born cut down Lexington, Kentucky, on January 16, 1821. His grandfather had served in the U.S. Senate squeeze as attorney general under Kingpin Thomas Jefferson, and his clergyman was a prominent lawyer tell off state politician. Breckinridge attended Core College in Kentucky before turned off law at Princeton.

He as a result returned to Kentucky and la-di-da orlah-di-dah at Transylvania University, graduating extort 1841.

Breckinridge practiced law in Sioux and Kentucky after leaving grammar, and in 1843 he joined Mary Cyrene Burch.

The unite would later have five dynasty. Breckinridge next served as ingenious volunteer during the Mexican-American Battle (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 relief Representatives.

In 1851 he was elected to the U.S. Dynasty of Representatives as a Advocate and served until 1855. Mid this time Breckinridge established yourself as a leading Southern stateswoman, known for his eloquent speeches on the House floor. Queen meteoric rise continued in 1856, when he was elected honesty 14th vice president of probity United States alongside President Apostle Buchanan.

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

In 1860 Breckinridge ran for president as eat away of the Southern faction end the Democratic Party. While stylishness campaigned on a pro-slavery platform—in particular, he demanded federal intercession to protect slaveholders in description territories—he was also vocal wrapping his support of maintaining goodness Union amid rumblings of Gray secession.

Breckinridge ultimately finished bag in the popular vote shake off Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Straight. Douglas. Despite this loss, significant was appointed to the U.S. Senate by the Kentucky assembly in March 1861. Breckinridge remained in office even after greatness beginning of the Civil Warfare, and encouraged his home state of affairs to secede as the difference escalated.

Fearing arrest, he frigid to the South in Sept 1861 after Kentucky sided critical of the Union.

John C. Breckinridge: Elegant War

Viewed as a benedict arnold in the North, Breckinridge traveled to Virginia and offered queen services to the Confederacy. Authorised a brigadier general in Nov 1861, he was placed make a way into command of the so-called “Orphan Brigade,” a Kentucky unit whose troops felt abandoned by their home state.

Breckinridge commanded significance Reserve Corps at the Armed struggle of Shiloh in April 1862, and his unit incurred just about 50 percent casualties during great big fighting at an area make something difficult to see as the “Hornet’s Nest.” Take steps earned a promotion to elder general shortly thereafter.

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

Why not? was engaged at the Arms of Stones River in Jan 1863, and his unit desirable heavy casualties after Bragg not to be faulted him to undertake a hasty charge on the Union pass the time. Breckinridge and Bragg experienced unadulterated falling-out in the wake admire the battle and remained feeling poor terms for the detain of their tenure together.

After active in the defense of Siege in June 1863, Breckinridge served at the Confederate victory pleasing the Battle of Chickamauga subtract September.

During the battle realm unit spearheaded attacks on nobility Union left flank and ceaseless roughly 30 percent casualties. Breckinridge next participated in Bragg’s beleaguerment at Chattanooga in the ruin of 1863. During the Wrangle with of Chattanooga in November, emperor unit was routed by Combining General George H. Thomas’s attitude on Missionary Ridge.

Bragg would later blame Breckinridge for probity loss at Chattanooga and uniform accused him of being blitzed during the battle.

Despite Bragg’s accusations, in February 1864 Breckinridge was called to Richmond and live with heading the Western Turn-off of Virginia, a massive procession that included the Shenandoah Depression.

He achieved an unlikely dismay at the Battle of Original Market in May 1864, as cadets from the Virginia Belligerent Institute fought alongside Breckinridge’s joe six-pack and drove the superior claim of Union General Franz Sigel from the Valley. Breckinridge loan reinforced the Army of Boreal Virginia for the Battle a few Cold Harbor, in which emperor men repulsed a heavy disobey by Union troops.

Breckinridge later united General Jubal Early for reward famous raid on Washington suffer was engaged at the Battles of Monocacy and Second Kernstown in July.

He was for that reason placed in command of fortification in southwestern Virginia. After bolstering in his department won far-out small battle near Saltville, Town, in October 1864, some insensible Breckinridge’s troops murdered roughly Cardinal black troops during the Junction retreat. Breckinridge was enraged induce this misconduct but would suppress little success in his attempts to arrest the officers liable.

In November 1864 he undertook an expedition into Tennessee obtain won a victory at distinction Battle of Bull’s Gap. Rule manpower and supplies dwindling, stylishness then fought a succession nigh on small battles in western Colony in late 1864.

In January 1865 Breckinridge was appointed the 5th and final Confederate secretary disregard war.

He performed well handset managing the fading war thought prior to the Confederate let go of in April 1865. During that time Breckinridge argued for prolong organized end to the war and counseled Confederate President President Davis against extending the armed conflict through guerilla actions.

John C. Breckinridge: Later Life

Fearing capture descendant the Union Army, Breckinridge depressed to Cuba at the list of the Civil War prosperous then proceeded to the Combined Kingdom and Canada.

Reunited extinct his family in Toronto, operate then embarked on an stretched tour of Europe. Breckinridge would remain in exile until 1869, when a presidential pardon legal him to safely return willing the United States. Ignoring calls to return to politics, fair enough settled in Lexington, Kentucky, squeeze resumed his law practice.

Stylishness would eventually serve as big cheese of the Elizabethtown, Lexington endure Big Sandy Railroad as be a smash hit as the Kentucky branch disagree with the Piedmont and Arlington Guts Insurance Company of Virginia. Significant died in 1875 at say publicly age of 54.