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 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

Wythe the Teacher

References

1. ↑ Philander D. Chase, Breckinridge, James, American National Biography Online, accessed November 18, 2014.
2. ↑ Mary Newton Stanard, “Breckenridge, James” in “Dictionary of Virginia Biography” ed. Allen Johnson & Dumas Malone (New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1958), 6.
3. ↑ Philander D. Chase, Breckinridge, James
4. ↑ Ibid.
5. ↑ Mary Newton Stanard, “Breckenridge, James.”
6. ↑ Philander D. Chase, Breckinridge, James
7. ↑ Ibid.
8. ↑ Ibid.
9. ↑ Ibid.
10. ↑ Ibid.
11. ↑ Ibid.
12. ↑ Ibid.
13. ↑ Ibid.
14. ↑ Ibid.
15. ↑ Ibid.
16. ↑ Ibid.
17. ↑ Ibid.
18. ↑ Ibid.
19. ↑ Ibid.
20. ↑ Ibid.
21. ↑ Ibid.
22. ↑ Mary Newton Stanard, “Breckenridge, James.”
23. ↑ Philander D. Chase, Breckinridge, James
24. ↑ Ibid.
25. ↑ Ibid.