Difference between revisions of "James Breckinridge"
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− | James Breckinridge (March 7, 1763 – May 13, 1833), was a Virginia lawyer and Federalist politician born in Augusta County, Virginia (now [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botetourt_County,_Virginia Botetourt County]) to Robert Breckenridge and Lettice Preston.<ref>Philander D. Chase,[http://www.anb.org/articles/03/03-00062.html?a=1&n=James%20Breckinridge&d=10&ss=0&q=1 ''Breckinridge, James''], ''American National Biography Online'', accessed November 18, 2014.</ref> James was not the only politically active member of his family, as his older brother [http://lawlibrary.wm.edu/wythepedia/index.php/John_Breckinridge John] was attorney general to [http://lawlibrary.wm.edu/wythepedia/index.php/Thomas_Jefferson Thomas Jefferson].<ref>Mary Newton Stanard, “Breckenridge, James” in “Dictionary of Virginia Biography” ed. Allen Johnson & Dumas Malone (New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1958), 6.</ref> Like his brother, James spelled his family name with an “i” instead of an “e.” <ref>Philander D. Chase,[http://www.anb.org/articles/03/03-00062.html?a=1&n=James%20Breckinridge&d=10&ss=0&q=1 ''Breckinridge, James'']</ref> James’ early schooling was erratic because of the American Revolution and in 1781, at the age of only eighteen, he joined a corps of western riflemen.<ref>Ibid.</ref> Later the same year, Breckinridge became an officer under [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathanael_Greene General Nathanael Greene] in North Carolina.<ref> Mary Newton Stanard, “Breckenridge, James.”</ref> Later in life, James resumed his military career for a brief time: at the age of 51 and on account of the War of 1812, Virginia’s governor appointed him brigadier general of the Third Brigade of state militia.<ref> Philander D. Chase,[ http://www.anb.org/articles/03/03-00062.html?a=1&n=James%20Breckinridge&d=10&ss=0&q=1 ''Breckinridge, James'']</ref> The militia guarded Richmond and reinforced troops in Baltimore, but it did not see combat.<ref>Ibid.</ref><br /> | + | James Breckinridge (March 7, 1763 – May 13, 1833), was a Virginia lawyer and Federalist politician born in Augusta County, Virginia (now [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botetourt_County,_Virginia Botetourt County]) to Robert Breckenridge and Lettice Preston.<ref>Philander D. Chase, [http://www.anb.org/articles/03/03-00062.html?a=1&n=James%20Breckinridge&d=10&ss=0&q=1 ''Breckinridge, James''], ''American National Biography Online'', accessed November 18, 2014.</ref> James was not the only politically active member of his family, as his older brother [http://lawlibrary.wm.edu/wythepedia/index.php/John_Breckinridge John] was attorney general to [http://lawlibrary.wm.edu/wythepedia/index.php/Thomas_Jefferson Thomas Jefferson].<ref>Mary Newton Stanard, “Breckenridge, James” in “Dictionary of Virginia Biography” ed. Allen Johnson & Dumas Malone (New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1958), 6.</ref> Like his brother, James spelled his family name with an “i” instead of an “e.” <ref>Philander D. Chase, [http://www.anb.org/articles/03/03-00062.html?a=1&n=James%20Breckinridge&d=10&ss=0&q=1 ''Breckinridge, James'']</ref> James’ early schooling was erratic because of the American Revolution and in 1781, at the age of only eighteen, he joined a corps of western riflemen.<ref>Ibid.</ref> Later the same year, Breckinridge became an officer under [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathanael_Greene General Nathanael Greene] in North Carolina.<ref> Mary Newton Stanard, “Breckenridge, James.”</ref> Later in life, James resumed his military career for a brief time: at the age of 51 and on account of the War of 1812, Virginia’s governor appointed him brigadier general of the Third Brigade of state militia.<ref> Philander D. Chase, [http://www.anb.org/articles/03/03-00062.html?a=1&n=James%20Breckinridge&d=10&ss=0&q=1 ''Breckinridge, James'']</ref> The militia guarded Richmond and reinforced troops in Baltimore, but it did not see combat.<ref>Ibid.</ref><br /> |
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In 1782, James began his career in public service as the Deputy Clerk of Botetourt County.<ref>Ibid.</ref> By 1784 he had become a land surveyor and, like many of his time, sought to settle in Kentucky.<ref>Ibid.</ref> Instead, he entered the College of William & Mary in November 1786.<ref>Ibid.</ref> Like his brother John, James studied law under [http://lawlibrary.wm.edu/wythepedia/index.php/George_Wythe George Wythe].<ref>Ibid.</ref> In 1788, James attended the Virginia Ratifying Convention, at which time his Federalist leanings were already becoming apparent.<ref>Ibid.</ref> He abandoned his studies in 1788, but was admitted to the bar in 1789.<ref>Ibid.</ref> In 1789, James was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates, the first of his 13 terms.<ref>Ibid.</ref> He interrupted his time in the House of Delegates in the mid 1790’s, when he served as a commonwealth attorney.<ref>Ibid.</ref> James became active in national politics in 1809, when he was elected to the United States House of Representatives.<ref>Ibid.</ref> He served four terms and returned to the Virginia House of Delegates.<ref>Ibid.</ref> Unlike his Republican brother John, James was a Federalist.<ref>Ibid.</ref> Because this was a minority party at the time, James’ political career was stunted and he lost elections for United States Senate, and for Virginia Governor.<ref>Ibid.</ref> As a politician, James supported the creation of roads and plans for the University of Virginia.<ref>Ibid.</ref><br /> | In 1782, James began his career in public service as the Deputy Clerk of Botetourt County.<ref>Ibid.</ref> By 1784 he had become a land surveyor and, like many of his time, sought to settle in Kentucky.<ref>Ibid.</ref> Instead, he entered the College of William & Mary in November 1786.<ref>Ibid.</ref> Like his brother John, James studied law under [http://lawlibrary.wm.edu/wythepedia/index.php/George_Wythe George Wythe].<ref>Ibid.</ref> In 1788, James attended the Virginia Ratifying Convention, at which time his Federalist leanings were already becoming apparent.<ref>Ibid.</ref> He abandoned his studies in 1788, but was admitted to the bar in 1789.<ref>Ibid.</ref> In 1789, James was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates, the first of his 13 terms.<ref>Ibid.</ref> He interrupted his time in the House of Delegates in the mid 1790’s, when he served as a commonwealth attorney.<ref>Ibid.</ref> James became active in national politics in 1809, when he was elected to the United States House of Representatives.<ref>Ibid.</ref> He served four terms and returned to the Virginia House of Delegates.<ref>Ibid.</ref> Unlike his Republican brother John, James was a Federalist.<ref>Ibid.</ref> Because this was a minority party at the time, James’ political career was stunted and he lost elections for United States Senate, and for Virginia Governor.<ref>Ibid.</ref> As a politician, James supported the creation of roads and plans for the University of Virginia.<ref>Ibid.</ref><br /> | ||
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− | He married Anne Selden in 1791 and settled in Botetourt County on a plantation he named Grove Hill.<ref>Ibid.</ref> They were married at Old St. John’s Church in Richmond by Reverend James Buchanan on New Year’s Day 1791.<ref> Mary Newton Stanard, “Breckenridge, James.”</ref> James and Anne had 10 children and 49 slaves.<ref> Philander D. Chase,[http://www.anb.org/articles/03/03-00062.html?a=1&n=James%20Breckinridge&d=10&ss=0&q=1 ''Breckinridge, James'']</ref> In his later life, James served as a member of the Board of Visitors of the University of Virginia.<ref>Ibid.</ref> He served in this position until his death at Grove Hill in 1833.<ref>Ibid.</ref> | + | He married Anne Selden in 1791 and settled in Botetourt County on a plantation he named Grove Hill.<ref>Ibid.</ref> They were married at Old St. John’s Church in Richmond by Reverend James Buchanan on New Year’s Day 1791.<ref> Mary Newton Stanard, “Breckenridge, James.”</ref> James and Anne had 10 children and 49 slaves.<ref> Philander D. Chase, [http://www.anb.org/articles/03/03-00062.html?a=1&n=James%20Breckinridge&d=10&ss=0&q=1 ''Breckinridge, James'']</ref> In his later life, James served as a member of the Board of Visitors of the University of Virginia.<ref>Ibid.</ref> He served in this position until his death at Grove Hill in 1833.<ref>Ibid.</ref> |
==See also== | ==See also== |
Revision as of 11:30, 18 November 2014
James Breckinridge (March 7, 1763 – May 13, 1833), was a Virginia lawyer and Federalist politician born in Augusta County, Virginia (now Botetourt County) to Robert Breckenridge and Lettice Preston.[1] James was not the only politically active member of his family, as his older brother John was attorney general to Thomas Jefferson.[2] Like his brother, James spelled his family name with an “i” instead of an “e.” [3] James’ early schooling was erratic because of the American Revolution and in 1781, at the age of only eighteen, he joined a corps of western riflemen.[4] Later the same year, Breckinridge became an officer under General Nathanael Greene in North Carolina.[5] Later in life, James resumed his military career for a brief time: at the age of 51 and on account of the War of 1812, Virginia’s governor appointed him brigadier general of the Third Brigade of state militia.[6] The militia guarded Richmond and reinforced troops in Baltimore, but it did not see combat.[7]
In 1782, James began his career in public service as the Deputy Clerk of Botetourt County.[8] By 1784 he had become a land surveyor and, like many of his time, sought to settle in Kentucky.[9] Instead, he entered the College of William & Mary in November 1786.[10] Like his brother John, James studied law under George Wythe.[11] In 1788, James attended the Virginia Ratifying Convention, at which time his Federalist leanings were already becoming apparent.[12] He abandoned his studies in 1788, but was admitted to the bar in 1789.[13] In 1789, James was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates, the first of his 13 terms.[14] He interrupted his time in the House of Delegates in the mid 1790’s, when he served as a commonwealth attorney.[15] James became active in national politics in 1809, when he was elected to the United States House of Representatives.[16] He served four terms and returned to the Virginia House of Delegates.[17] Unlike his Republican brother John, James was a Federalist.[18] Because this was a minority party at the time, James’ political career was stunted and he lost elections for United States Senate, and for Virginia Governor.[19] As a politician, James supported the creation of roads and plans for the University of Virginia.[20]
He married Anne Selden in 1791 and settled in Botetourt County on a plantation he named Grove Hill.[21] They were married at Old St. John’s Church in Richmond by Reverend James Buchanan on New Year’s Day 1791.[22] James and Anne had 10 children and 49 slaves.[23] In his later life, James served as a member of the Board of Visitors of the University of Virginia.[24] He served in this position until his death at Grove Hill in 1833.[25]
See also
References
- ↑ Philander D. Chase, Breckinridge, James, American National Biography Online, accessed November 18, 2014.
- ↑ Mary Newton Stanard, “Breckenridge, James” in “Dictionary of Virginia Biography” ed. Allen Johnson & Dumas Malone (New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1958), 6.
- ↑ Philander D. Chase, Breckinridge, James
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Mary Newton Stanard, “Breckenridge, James.”
- ↑ Philander D. Chase, Breckinridge, James
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Mary Newton Stanard, “Breckenridge, James.”
- ↑ Philander D. Chase, Breckinridge, James
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Ibid.