John breckinridge biography

John C. Breckinridge was from Kentucky (a northern state) and graduated from Centre College, in Danville, Kentucky, in He continued his education at Transylvania University, in Lexington, Kentucky, and was admitted to the bar in

After serving two terms in the House of Representatives, Breckinridge became the youngest Vice President in the history of the United States under President James Buchanan in , at the age of In the presidential election he ran for president, but lost to Abraham Lincoln. As he had been elected to the U.S. Senate by the Kentucky legislature in before his term as Vice President expired, he stayed on in Washington, D.C. to serve as a Senator.

While fulfilling his obligations as a Senator, he came under suspicion as a Confederate sympathizer. In September , an order was issued for his arrest even though he had not committed any treasonous act and was personally opposed to secession. To avoid being jailed, he fled to the South and on November 2, accepted a comm

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John C. Breckinridge (–)

John Cabell Breckinridge became the youngest vice president in United States history when he was elected with President James Buchanan in the 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, , 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 Le

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John C. Breckinridge

Vice President of the United States from to

For his great-grandson, the actor, see Bunny Breckinridge.

John C. Breckinridge
portrait
In office March 4, &#;– March 4,
President	James Buchanan
Preceded by	William R. King
Succeeded by	Hannibal Hamlin
In office February 6, &#;– May 10,
President	Jefferson Davis
Preceded by	James Seddon
Succeeded by	Office abolished
In office March 4, &#;– December 4,
Preceded by	John J. Crittenden
Succeeded by	Garrett Davis
In office March 4, &#;– March 3,
Preceded by	Charles Morehead
Succeeded by	Alexander Marshall
In office –
Born	John Cabell Breckinridge ()January 16, Lexington, Kentucky, U.S.
Died	May 17, () (aged&#;54) Lexington, Kentucky, U.S.
Resting place	Lexington Cemetery
Political party	Democratic
Other political affiliations	Southern Democratic ()
Spouse	Mary Burch &#; (m.&#;&