What was john breckinridge known for

John breckinridge election of 1860
John c breckinridge cause of death
What did john breckinridge want to do as president

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By James Scallon

Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Kentucky’s 8^th District, March 4, 1851 – March 4, 1855.
14^th Vice President of the United States, March 4, 1857 – March 4, 1861.
United States Senator from Kentucky, March 4, 1861 – December 4, 1861.
Confederate Secretary of War, February 6, 1865 – May 10, 1865.

John Cabell Breckinridge was a prominent statesman and lawyer from Lexington, Kentucky. He was born into the Breckinridge political family of Kentucky and shared close family ties to the Preston political family of Virginia. Breckinridge was surrounded by politics at the local and national levels from a young age and thus decided to pursue a career in law. By the age of 20, Breckinridge had graduated from Transylvania University, one of the leading law schools of the time.

In 1847, Breckinridge used his legal expertise and outstanding oratory skills to serve the state of Kentucky in the Mexican-American War where he would serve on the staff of Major General William O. Butler. After the war, he returned from his non-combative role

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John C. Breckinridge (1857–1861)

John Cabell Breckinridge became the youngest vice president in United States history when he was elected with President James Buchanan in the 1856 election. Yet, the turbulence of the times and the American Civil War led him to become the second vice president (after Aaron Burr) to be accused of treason when he joined the Confederate Army and took up arms against the Union.

Breckinridge was born January 16, 1821, in Lexington, Kentucky. His family had long been involved in politics. His grandfather was a U.S. senator and served as attorney general for President Thomas Jefferson, and his father was active in Kentucky state politics. However, both men died young, and John and his sisters were raised by their mother and grandmother. He attended Centre College in Danville, Kentucky, and then studied law for a time at Princeton University in New Jersey. He returned to Kentucky to continue his law studies at Transylvania University and under Judge William Owsley in Lexington. Breckinridge was admitted to the bar in 1841.

Along with a cousin, Brecki

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John Cabell Breckinridge graduated from Centre College in 1839 and, after studying law at Transylvania University, was admitted to the bar in 1840. During the Mexican-American War Breckinridge served as major of the 3rd Kentucky Volunteers. He was elected to Congress twice in the early 1850s and in 1856 was elected vice president under President James Buchanan. In 1860 he ran for president, but lost to Republican candidate Abraham Lincoln. When the South began to secede in response to Lincoln's election, Breckinridge, having been elected to the US Senate, stressed the right of secession.

However, when Kentucky remained in the Union, Breckinridge resigned his Senate seat and joined the Confederate army, receiving a commission as a brigadier general. He was promoted to major general following the Battle of Shiloh, in which he was wounded. Breckinridge developed an intense disdain for fellow Confederate officer, General Braxton Bragg, considering him to be incompetent. Bragg likewise had an immense dislike for Breckinridge, accusing him of being a drunk. The sentiments of both indiv