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 President, and one unsuccessful candidate for United States President. Breckinridges have served as college presidents, prominent ministers, soldiers, and theologians and in important positions at state and local levels. The family was most notable in Kentucky and most prominent during the 19th century, during nearly one third of which a member of the family served in the United States Congress.
NOTE: Peter B. Porter was also uncle of U.S. Senator Augustus S. Porter. [37] Thomas H. Clay was also son of Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Henry Clay, [38] brother of U.S. Representative James Brown Clay, [39] third cousin of U.S. diplomat Brutus Clay, [40] fourth cousin of U.S. Senator Clement Claiborne Clay Jr., [41] first cousin twice removed of U.S. Representative Matthew Clay [42] and Kentucky State Senator Green Clay, [43] third cousin once removed of U.S. Senator Clement Comer Clay, [44] and second cousin once removed of Alabama State Senator Matthew Clay, [45] U.S. Representative Brutus J. Clay, [46] and U.S. diplomat Cassius M. Clay. [47]
John Cabell Breckinridge was an American lawyer, politician, and soldier. He represented Kentucky in both houses of Congress and became the 14th and youngest-ever vice president of the United States. Serving from 1857 to 1861, he took office at the age of 36. He was a member of the Democratic Party, and served in the U.S. Senate during the outbreak of the American Civil War, but was expelled after joining the Confederate Army. He was appointed Confederate Secretary of War in 1865.
John Breckinridge was a lawyer, slave-owning planter, soldier, and politician in the U.S. states of Virginia and Kentucky. He served several terms each in the state legislatures of Virginia and Kentucky before legislators elected him to the U.S. Senate. He also served as United States Attorney General during the second term of President Thomas Jefferson. He is the progenitor of Kentucky's Breckinridge political family and the namesake of Breckinridge County, Kentucky.
Peter Buell Porter was an American lawyer, soldier and politician who served as United States Secretary of War from 1828 to 1829.
Desha Breckinridge was the editor and publisher of the Lexington Herald from 1897 to 1935. In 1898 he married Madeline McDowell, who became nationally known as Madeline McDowell Breckinridge. He was a brother of Sophonisba Breckinridge and the son of William Campbell Preston Breckinridge, a member of Congress from Kentucky and a lawyer. His grandfather was the abolitionist minister Robert Jefferson Breckinridge, and his great-grandfather was John Breckinridge.
William Campbell Preston Breckinridge was a lawyer and Democratic politician from Kentucky; a U.S. Representative from 1885 to 1895. He was a scion of the Breckinridge political family: grandson of Senator John Breckinridge, and first cousin of Vice President John C. Breckinridge.
Robert Jefferson Breckinridge was a politician and Presbyterian minister. He was a member of the Breckinridge family of Kentucky, the son of Senator John Breckinridge.
Henry Skillman Breckinridge was an American lawyer and politician who was a member of the prominent Breckinridge family and served as the United States Assistant Secretary of War from 1913 to 1916. During the Lindbergh kidnapping trial he served as Charles Lindbergh's attorney. Breckinridge opposed the New Deal from the right. As an opponent of President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the 1936 Democratic primaries he polled less than 3 percent of the vote.
Peter Augustus Porter was a lawyer, politician, and member of the Breckinridge family and a Union Army colonel in the American Civil War. He died in the Battle of Cold Harbor.
Joseph Cabell Breckinridge Sr. was a Union Army officer from Kentucky during the American Civil War. In later life, he became a brigadier general in the U.S. Regular Army and Inspector General of the Army as well as a major general of volunteers in the Spanish–American War.
Joseph J. Bullock was a Presbyterian clergyman who served as Chaplain of the Senate of the United States from 1879 until 1883.
Scott Dudley Breckinridge was an American fencer and gynecologist. He competed in the individual foil and team épée events at the 1912 Summer Olympics.
Mary Cyrene Breckinridge (née Burch; August 16, 1826 – October 8, 1907) was the wife of John C. Breckinridge and served as the second lady of the United States from March 4, 1857, until March 4, 1861, while her husband was the 14th vice president of the United States.
Joseph Cabell Breckinridge was a lawyer, soldier, slaveholder and politician in the U.S. state of Kentucky. From 1816 to 1819, he represented Fayette County in the Kentucky House of Representatives, and fellow members elected him as their speaker. In 1820, Governor John Adair appointed Breckinridge Kentucky Secretary of State, and he served until his death.
Breckinridge is a surname, and may refer to:
John Witherspoon "Owen" Breckinridge was an American lawyer and politician who served in the California State Assembly.