James Breckinridge (March 7, 1763May 13, 1833) was a Virginia lawyer and politician and a member of the

Breckinridge family The Breckinridge family is a family of public figures from the United States. The family has included six members of the United States House of Representatives, two United States Senators, a cabinet member, two ambassadors, one United States Vice P ...

. 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 Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed ...

during the War of 1812.

Family and early life

Breckinridge was born near Fincastle in Botetourt County in the

Colony of Virginia The Colony of Virginia, chartered in 1606 and settled in 1607, was the first enduring English colonial empire, English colony in North America, following failed attempts at settlement on Newfoundland (island), Newfoundland by Sir Humphrey GilbertG ...

. He was the son of Robert Breckinridge whose father had immigrated from Ireland. His mother was the former Leticia Preston.Dictionary of American Biography'' Vol. 2, p 5 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 Breckinridge Mill, also known as Howell's Mill and Breckinridge Mill Complex, is a historic grist mill complex located near Fincastle, Botetourt County, Virginia. The mill was built about 1822, and is a -story, brick structure. The mill was conver ...

in 1822, to replace an earlier mill he built in 1804. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980, with a boundary increase in 2002.

Political career

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 The term ''federalist'' describes several political beliefs around the world. It may also refer to the concept of parties, whose members or supporters called themselves ''Federalists''. History Europe federation In Europe, proponents of de ...

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. At one point he ran for governor of Virginia but was defeated by James Monroe.

Elections

*1809; Breckinridge was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives with 56.72% of the vote, defeating Democrat-Republican Alexander Wilson. *1811; Breckinridge was re-elected with 58.4% of the vote, defeating Democrat-Republican Thomas L. Preston. *1813; Breckinridge was re-elected unopposed. *1815; Breckinridge was re-elected unopposed.

Death and burial

Breckinridge 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.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Breckinridge, James 1763 births 1833 deaths People from Botetourt County, Virginia Members of the Virginia House of Delegates Virginia lawyers Washington and Lee University alumni College of William & Mary alumni Continental Army soldiers United States Army generals American militiamen in the War of 1812 United States Army personnel of the War of 1812 Breckinridge family Federalist Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Virginia 19th-century American politicians 18th-century American politicians 18th-century American lawyers 19th-century American lawyers People of Virginia in the American Revolution