John Breckinridge (U.S. Attorney General)

John Breckinridge (Breckenridge ) ( born December 2, 1760 Staunton, Virginia; † December 14, 1806 in Lexington, Kentucky) was an American lawyer, politician, U.S. Senator and Minister of Justice ( Attorney General ).

Studies, career and family

Breckinridge initially completed a general education studies at the prestigious College of William & Mary. During the Revolutionary War (1775-1783) he served in the Virginia militia, and then studied law. After admission to the bar in 1785, he founded a law firm in Charlottesville; In 1793 he called such then in Lexington to life. At the same time, he and the Castleton Farm one of the most famous race horse stables in horse racing history of the United States.

Breckinridge came from a respected and influential family of politicians. His grandson, John Cabell Breckinridge was the youngest Vice President of the United States. His grandson William Campbell Preston Breckinridge and his great grandson, Clifton R. Breckinridge were deputies of the House of Representatives, as well as his great-grandson John B. Breckinridge.

Political career

Offices in Kentucky

While still a student, he was elected in 1779 at the age of 19 years as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Virginia. Since then, the limitation comes of age nor in the age of 21, however, he could not at first take up this mandate.

In 1792 he was elected as an MP in the House of Representatives of the United States, but he resigned before the start of the session on this mandate. In 1794 he ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the U.S. Senate. From 1795 until his retirement in 1797 he was Attorney General of Kentucky. He then became a member of the House of Representatives from Kentucky who voted him to his spokesman for two years. Subsequently, he was from 1799 to 1801 a member of the Constituent Assembly of Kentucky.

U.S. Senator and Minister of Justice under Jefferson

As a candidate of the Democratic-Republican Party, he was then elected to the U.S. Senator. As such, it was March 4, 1801 to August 7, 1805 to representatives of the State of Washington. After his resignation as a senator, he was then appointed as Attorney General in the Cabinet on August 7, 1805 by U.S. President Thomas Jefferson.

Breckinridge, who died in office in many ways was an important adviser to the president.