James Breckinridge (March 7, 1763 – May 13, 1833) was a Virginia lawyer and politician and a member of the Breckinridge family. He served in the Virginia House of Delegates, as well as the U.S. House of Representatives. He also fought in the American Revolutionary War and served as a brigadier-general during the War of 1812.[1]
James Breckinridge | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 5th district | |
| In office March 4, 1809 – March 3, 1817 | |
| Preceded by | Alexander Wilson |
| Succeeded by | John Floyd |
| Member of the Virginia House of Delegates from Botetourt County | |
| In office 1823 Alongside Allen Taylor | |
| In office 1819–1820 Alongside Jesse Rowland, Thomas Burwell | |
| In office 1806–1807 Alongside Charles Beale, Andrew Lewis | |
| In office 1796–1801 Alongside Thomas Madison, John Miller, William McClanahan | |
| In office 1789–1790 Alongside Robert Harvey, Martin McFerran | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 7, 1763 near Fincastle, Virginia Colony, British America |
| Died | May 13, 1833 (aged 70) Botetourt County, Virginia, U.S. |
| Political party | Federalist |
| Alma mater | College of William and Mary Washington College |
| Profession | Attorney |
| Military service | |
| Rank | Brigadier-general |
| Battles/wars | American Revolutionary War War of 1812 |
Family and early life
editBreckinridge was born near Fincastle in Botetourt County in the Colony of Virginia. He was the son of Robert Breckinridge whose father had immigrated from Ireland. His mother was the former Leticia Preston.[2] His brother was John Breckinridge and he was the great-great-great-uncle of John Bayne Breckinridge. He married Ann Cary Selden (daughter of Wilson Cary Selden & Elizabeth Jennings) born 1770 died 1843.
He studied under private tutors and during the Revolutionary War, he served in Colonel Preston's rifle regiment under General Nathanael Greene. He attended Washington College (now Washington and Lee University) and graduated from the College of William and Mary in 1785. He studied law and was admitted to the bar and practiced in Fincastle in 1787.
He built Breckinridge Mill in 1822, to replace an earlier mill he built in 1804.[3] It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980, with a boundary increase in 2002.[4]
Political career
edit
Breckinridge served as a delegate to the Virginia House of Delegates intermittently between 1789 and 1824. He took a special interest in the construction of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. He was then elected as a Federalist to the Eleventh Congress and to the three succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1809 – March 3, 1817). He was an associate of Thomas Jefferson in the establishment of the University of Virginia and served as brigadier general in the War of 1812.
Elections
edit- 1796; Breckinridge was a candidate for United States Senator, defeated by Democratic-Republican Stevens Thomson Mason[5]
- 1799; Breckinridge was a candidate for Governor, defeated by Democratic-Republican James Monroe
- 1809; Breckinridge was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives with 56.72% of the vote, defeating Democratic-Republican Alexander Wilson.
- 1811; Breckinridge was re-elected with 58.4% of the vote, defeating Democratic-Republican Thomas L. Preston.
- 1813; Breckinridge was re-elected unopposed.
- 1815; Breckinridge was re-elected unopposed.
Death and burial
editBreckinridge died at his country home, "Grove Hill," Botetourt County, Virginia, May 13, 1833, and was buried in the family burial plot on his estate near Fincastle.
Legacy
editSince his death, Breckenridge Elementary School in Fincastle[6] and James Breckenridge Middle School[7] in nearby Roanoke have both been named in his honor.
References
edit- ^ Gunter, Donald W. "Breckinridge, James (1763–1833)". Encyclopedia Virginia. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
- ^ Dictionary of American Biography Vol. 2, p 5
- ^ Virginia Historic Landmarks Commission Staff (May 1980). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Breckinridge Mill" (PDF).
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
- ^ "VA US Senate". Our Campaigns. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
- ^ "Home - Breckinridge Elementary School". bres.bcps.k12.va.us.
- ^ "James Breckinridge Middle School / Homepage".
External links
edit- United States Congress. "James Breckinridge (id: B000785)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.