Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1875-05-25
DEATH OF JOHN @. BREGKIN-

Gen. John C. Breckenridge, whose extreme
illness has been previously announced, died
at his residence near Lexington, KY, on the
18th instant. in the fifty fifth year of his age
General Breckinridge, We learn from the
Baltimore Sun, was born near Lexington,
KY, on the 2lst of January, 1921, and be-
Iouged to family distinguished both in State
aud church. His grandfather, John Breck>
iDridge, was United States Senator from Ken
lucky, aud was afterwards United States At
, torney General under President Jefferson
The Iatter's son, John Breckenridge, d. D.,
an eminent minister of the Presbyterian
Church, was the father of John G. Breckin-
ridge, and the late Jobert j. Breckenridge,
r. D., LII D., who was pastor of the Second
Presbyterian Church in Baltimore for thirteen
years from 1882, aud rose to eminence, was
his uncle. =
The late General John c. Breckenridge was
educated at Centre College. Danville, KY,
and studied law at the Transylvania Institute,
in that State. He settled at Lexington, KY,
where he became ono of the leading members
of his profession. When the war with Mex.
leo began he entered the military service, and
vas elected major of the third regiment of
Kentucky volunteers. On his return from
Mexico he was elected to the House of Rep
resentatives of Kentucky, whore he first had
An opportunity to exhibit his powers as n de-
batter. In 1851 he was elected to the federal
House of Representatives over Gen. Leslie
Combs, and In 1858 reelected over Gov
Robert P. Letcher. Upon the accession of
President Pierce he was offered the ministry
to Spain previously to tho appointment of Mr..
Soule, but declined it. In 1856 he was nom
mated aud elected yice>President of the
as President, and entered upon the Office
March 4, 1857. He was the youngest officer
who had ever held that position, and presided
with dignity and impartiality. The seceders'
convention. which seeded from the demo-
cratic national convention of 1860, and which
held its final meeting at the Maryland Insti>
tute, in Baltimore, on the 11th of June in
thatyear, unanimously nominated Ger. Brock
inridge for the presidency, and Gen. Joseph
lane, of Oregon, for the vice presidency
The candidates of the regular convention, it
will be remembered, were Stephen Douglas,
of Illinois, for President, and Herschel V.
V. johnson, of Georgia, for Vice President
at the session of tho Senate after Mr. Lin
coins election Mr.. Breckenridge was prom>
inent in pushing the inquiry, ''Are we to have
4 nS-Sl
peace 2" and finally offered the following reso>
luton, action on which was precluded by the
adjournment of the Senate: ''Resoived, That
the Senate recommend and advise the removal
of the United States troops from the limits of
the Confederate States'' After the Federal
arrests of distinguished citizens in Kentucky
in September, 1861, Mr.. Breckenridge entered
the Confederate lines and gave in his adhesion
to that government, which made him a brig
adler general In his career as soldier he
exhibited decided evidences of military talents
and ardor. He participated in the battles at
Baton Rouge, Stone river, Chickamauga,
routed Gillem at Morristown, Tenn, and won
so brilliant victory over Siegel at New Mar
ket, in the Valley of Virginia that even Gree
ley's History. of the American Conflict" con-
cedes that ga force that if concentrated could
have beaten all the rebels in Virginia west of
the Blue Ridge, had been SO dispersed and
frittered away as 20 achieve less than nothing"
General Breckenridge also commanded di
vision in the second battle of Cold Harbor
near Richmond, Va, where he greatly dis
bod hTy eL,1
personal proves in exposing himself on that
stubbornly contested field. After this he was
made Secretary of War of the Confederacy,
and despite the crippled condition of the re-
sources of the country. succeeded in infusing
renewed vigor into the War Department.
He remained in Richmond until its eyacu-
alton, and travelled with President Davis up to
within few hours of the capture of the latter,
when he made his way to the Florida coast,
from whence he succeeded in reaching Cuba.
He afterwards went to Canada, where he re-
NAMED for several years, in the meantime
making visit to Europe. Upon his return
to the United States he took up his residence
on the old homestead, near Lexington, KY,
where he has since resided. Beingunder po-
1itical disabilities he has abstained from an
active participation in political affairs, but al
ways, when occasion presented, urging upon
his fellow>citizens the discharge of all the
duties of law-abiding people. He has been
in ill health for several years, and now ca
reer full of political and professional promise
has come permanently to an end.
OUR STATE CAPITAL.