James Breckinridge
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.
