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 The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they ...

, two

United States Senators The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States. The composition and p ...

, a cabinet member, two ambassadors, one

United States Vice President The vice president of the United States (VPOTUS) is the second-highest officer in the executive branch of the U.S. federal government, after the president of the United States, and ranks first in the presidential line of succession. The vice pr ...

, and one unsuccessful candidate for

United States President The president of the United States (POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States of America. The president directs the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United Stat ...

. 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 Kentucky ( , ), officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States and one of the states of the Upper South. It borders Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to the north; West Virginia and Virginia ...

and most prominent during the 19th century, during nearly one third of which a member of the family served in the

United States Congress The United States Congress is the legislature of the federal government of the United States. It is Bicameralism, bicameral, composed of a lower body, the United States House of Representatives, House of Representatives, and an upper body, ...

Prominent members

* Alexander Breckenridge (1686–1743). An Ulster-Scots and first Breckenridge in the New World. Emigrated to

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Since ...

c. 1728. Married to Jane Preston in

County Londonderry County Londonderry ( Ulster-Scots: ''Coontie Lunnonderrie''), also known as County Derry ( ga, Contae Dhoire), is one of the six counties of Northern Ireland, one of the thirty two counties of Ireland and one of the nine counties of Ulster. ...

, Ireland. She was sister of Robert Preston, * Robert Breckenridge Sr. (1720–1773), here termed Colonel Robert Breckenridge. Captain in Virginia militia during the

French and Indian War The French and Indian War (1754–1763) was a theater of the Seven Years' War, which pitted the North American colonies of the British Empire against those of the French, each side being supported by various Native American tribes. At the st ...

. Son of Alexander Breckenridge I. Married first Mary Poage, daughter of Robert Poage and Elizabeth Preston. After his first wife's death Breckenridge married second, his first cousin Letitia Preston.Woodworth, Robert Bell. ''The descendants of Robert and John Poage'', Volume I. Published: Staunton, Virginia, Priv. print. by the McClure Print. Co., 1954.
Page 695
America's political dynasties – Stephen Hess
Google Books. Retrieved on October 19, 2011. * Alexander Breckenridge (1752–1801), son of Robert Breckenridge and Mary Poage, here termed Captain Alexander Breckenridge. Married wealthy widow Jane (Buchanan) Floyd whose son John Floyd was

Governor of Virginia The governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia serves as the head of government of Virginia for a four-year term. The incumbent, Glenn Youngkin, was sworn in on January 15, 2022. Oath of office On inauguration day, the Governor-elect takes th ...

. Alexander and Jane had three sons: James Douglas Breckenridge, Henry Brown Breckenridge, and Robert Breckenridge. * Robert Breckenridge (1754–1833), son of Col. Robert Breckenridge and Mary Poage, Revolutionary War General. Ratifier of the

United States Constitution The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America. It superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, in 1789. Originally comprising seven articles, it delineates the natio ...

. Kentucky State Representative 1792–1795. Speaker of the

Kentucky House of Representatives The Kentucky House of Representatives is the lower house of the Kentucky General Assembly. It is composed of 100 Representatives elected from single-member districts throughout the Commonwealth. Not more than two counties can be joined to form a ...

. Brother of Captain Alexander Breckenridge; half-brother of John Breckinridge and James Breckinridge. Robert Breckenridge never married. Nota Bene: During his lifetime Colonel Robert Breckenridge spelled his surname as shown here, as did his father Alexander Breckenridge I. His sons by Leticia Preston, (i.e. James and John) began spelling the family name 'Breckinridge'. *

John Breckinridge John Breckinridge or Breckenridge may refer to: * John Breckinridge (U.S. Attorney General) (1760–1806), U.S. Senator and U.S. Attorney General * John C. Breckinridge (1821–1875), U.S. Representative and Senator, 14th Vice President of the Unit ...

(1760–1806), Member of

House of Burgesses The House of Burgesses was the elected representative element of the Virginia General Assembly, the legislative body of the Colony of Virginia. With the creation of the House of Burgesses in 1642, the General Assembly, which had been establishe ...

, U.S. District Attorney of Kentucky 1793–1794, Attorney General of Kentucky 1793–1797, Kentucky State Representative 1788–1790 1799–1801, delegate to the Kentucky Constitutional Convention 1799,

U.S. Senator The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States. The composition and power ...

from Kentucky 1801–1805,

United States Attorney General The United States attorney general (AG) is the head of the United States Department of Justice, and is the chief law enforcement officer of the federal government of the United States. The attorney general serves as the principal advisor to the p ...

under

Thomas Jefferson Thomas Jefferson (April 13, 1743 – July 4, 1826) was an American statesman, diplomat, lawyer, architect, philosopher, and Founding Fathers of the United States, Founding Father who served as the third president of the United States from 18 ...

1805–1806. Married Mary Hopkins Cabell in 1785. Half-brother of Alexander and Robert Breckenridge, brother of James Breckinridge, Son of Colonel Robert Breckinridge and Letitia Preston. *

James Breckinridge James Breckinridge (March 7, 1763May 13, 1833) was a Virginia lawyer and politician and a member of the Breckinridge family. He served in the Virginia House of Delegates, as well as the U.S. House of Representatives. He also fought in the Am ...

(1763–1833), Virginia House Delegate 1789–1802 1806–1808 1819–1821 1823–1824, member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia 1809–1817. Brother of John Breckinridge, Son of Robert Breckinridge and Letitia Preston. * Letitia Breckinridge, Daughter of John Breckinridge. Married first to Alfred William Grayson in 1804, who was a graduate of Cambridge University, lawyer, son of Senator

William Grayson William Grayson (1742 – March 12, 1790) was a planter, lawyer and statesman from Virginia. After leading a Virginia regiment in the Continental Army, Grayson served in the Virginia House of Delegates before becoming one of the first two U ...

of Virginia. He died in 1810. Married second to

Peter B. Porter Peter Buell Porter (August 14, 1773 – March 20, 1844) was an American lawyer, soldier and politician who served as United States Secretary of War from 1828 to 1829. Early life Porter was born on August 14, 1773, one of six children born to Dr ...

(1773–1844), New York Assemblyman 1802 and 1828, U.S. Representative from New York 1809–1813 and 1815–1816, New York Secretary of State 1815–1816, U.S. Secretary of War 1828–1829. * James Douglas Breckinridge (1781–1849), son of Captain Alexander Breckenridge and Jane (Buchanan) Breckenridge (d. 1849), member of

(1809–11) and the U.S. House of Representatives (1821–23). * Joseph "Cabell" Breckinridge I (1788–1823), Major in

War of 1812 The War of 1812 (18 June 1812 – 17 February 1815) was fought by the United States of America and its indigenous allies against the United Kingdom and its allies in British North America, with limited participation by Spain in Florida. It be ...

. Kentucky State Representative 1817–1818, Speaker of the

Kentucky Secretary of State The secretary of state of Kentucky is one of the constitutional officers of the U.S. state of Kentucky. It is now an elected office, but was an appointed office prior to 1891. The current secretary of state is Republican Michael Adams, who wa ...

1820–1823. Married Mary Clay Smith, daughter of Samuel Stanhope Smith, President of

Princeton University Princeton University is a private research university in Princeton, New Jersey. Founded in 1746 in Elizabeth as the College of New Jersey, Princeton is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and one of the ...

. Son of John Breckinridge. * Rev. John A. Breckinridge, D. D. (1797–1841) Born at Cabell's Dale, son of John Breckinridge. Presbyterian minister. Graduated Princeton College 1818,

Princeton Theological Seminary Princeton Theological Seminary (PTSem), officially The Theological Seminary of the Presbyterian Church, is a private school of theology in Princeton, New Jersey. Founded in 1812 under the auspices of Archibald Alexander, the General Assembly of t ...

1821. Married in 1823 Margaret, daughter of Rev. Samuel Miller D. D. *

Robert Jefferson Breckinridge Robert Jefferson Breckinridge (March 8, 1800 – December 27, 1871) was a politician and Presbyterian minister. He was a member of the Breckinridge family of Kentucky, the son of Senator John Breckinridge. A restless youth, Breckinridge wa ...

(1800–1871). Kentucky State Representative 1825–1828, Kentucky Superintendent of Public Instruction 1849–1853, candidate for delegate to the Kentucky Constitutional Convention 1849. Presbyterian minister. Son of John Breckinridge. Married Ann Sophonisba Preston in 1823. * Rev. William Lewis Breckinridge, D. D. (1803–1876). Born at Cabell's Dale, Fayette County, Kentucky. Presbyterian minister for 45 years. Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Council. Son of John Breckinridge. Married Frances Prevost in 1823, granddaughter of Samuel Stanhope Smith, President of

. * General

John Breckinridge Grayson John Breckinridge Grayson (October 18, 1806 – October 21, 1861) was a career United States Army officer and a graduate of West Point. He is well known for being a Confederate brigadier general during the American Civil War, his service during ...

(1806–1862) Born at Cabell's Dale, Fayette County, Kentucky. Son of Letitia Preston Breckinridge and Alfred William Grayson. Graduated

United States Military Academy The United States Military Academy (USMA), also known Metonymy, metonymically as West Point or simply as Army, is a United States service academies, United States service academy in West Point, New York. It was originally established as a f ...

, 1826.

Lieutenant Colonel Lieutenant colonel ( , ) is a rank of commissioned officers in the armies, most marine forces and some air forces of the world, above a major and below a colonel. Several police forces in the United States use the rank of lieutenant colon ...

U.S. Army at the outbreak of the Civil War; resigned in 1861, entered the

CSA CSA may refer to: Arts and media * Canadian Screen Awards, annual awards given by the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television * Commission on Superhuman Activities, a fictional American government agency in Marvel Comics * Crime Syndicate of Amer ...

. and was commissioned

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 appointe ...

. Died while in command of the coastal defenses of Georgia and Florida, in Tallahassee, in 1862. The Cabells and their kin: A ... – Alexander Brown – Internet Archive
Books.google.com (July 19, 2007). Retrieved on October 19, 2011. *

John Cabell Breckinridge John Cabell Breckinridge (January 16, 1821 – May 17, 1875) 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 ...

(1821–1875) Major in the

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, ...

1847–48. Member of the

1849–51. U.S. Representative from Kentucky 1851–55. Delegate to the

Democratic National Convention The Democratic National Convention (DNC) is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 18 ...

in 1856.

Vice President of the United States The vice president of the United States (VPOTUS) is the second-highest officer in the executive branch of the U.S. federal government, after the president of the United States, and ranks first in the presidential line of succession. The vice p ...

1857–61. Candidate for President of the United States 1860.

United States Senator The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States. The composition and po ...

from Kentucky 1861. Major General in the

Confederate States Army The Confederate States Army, also called the Confederate Army or the Southern Army, was the military land force of the Confederate States of America (commonly referred to as the Confederacy) during the American Civil War (1861–1865), fighting ...

1861–65. Confederate States Secretary of War 1865. Son of Joseph Cabell Breckinridge I. * Mary Cabell Breckinridge (1826–1854) Married cousin Colonel Peter A. Porter in 1852. Daughter of Rev. John Breckinridge. * Colonel Peter Augustus Porter (1827–1864), New York Assemblyman 1861–62, Colonel of the 129th New York State Volunteers, killed in action, 1864, Only son of

Peter Buell Porter Peter Buell Porter (August 14, 1773 – March 20, 1844) was an American lawyer, soldier and politician who served as United States Secretary of War from 1828 to 1829. Early life Porter was born on August 14, 1773, one of six children born to Dr. ...

. Married cousin Mary Cabell Breckinridge in 1852. * Mary Cabell Breckinridge, (born 1828) Daughter of Robert Jefferson Breckinridge. Married to William Warfield. * Samuel Miller Breckinridge (1828–1891) Member of Missouri legislature 1854–1855. Became Circuit Court judge in 1859. Elder in the Presbyterian Church and a leading member of its General Assembly. Married Virginia Harrison Castleman. Son of Rev. John Breckinridge.Breckinridge Biographies 1
. Breckinridge.com. Retrieved on October 19, 2011. * Robert Jefferson Breckinridge Jr. (1834–1915), Confederate States Representative from Kentucky 1862–1865, Colonel in the Confederate States Army, Kentucky Common Pleas Court Judge 1876. Son of Robert Jefferson Breckinridge. Married Katharine Morrison in 1856. * Marie Lettice Preston Breckinridge (born 1836), married Rev. William Collins Handy in 1857. * William Campbell Preston Breckinridge (1837–1904), delegate to the Democratic National Convention 1876, U.S. Representative from Kentucky 1885–1895. Married Lucretia Hart Clay, granddaughter of

Henry Clay Henry Clay Sr. (April 12, 1777June 29, 1852) was an American attorney and statesman who represented Kentucky in both the United States Senate, U.S. Senate and United States House of Representatives, House of Representatives. He was the seven ...

. Son of Robert Jefferson Breckinridge. * Joseph Cabell Breckinridge Sr. (1842–1921), General in the U.S. Army. Married Louise Ludlow Dudley, daughter of Ethelbert Ludlow Dudley, 1868. Son of Robert Jefferson Breckinridge. * Charles Henry Breckinridge (1844-1867), Captain in the U.S. Army. Son of Robert Jefferson Breckinridge. * Joseph Cabell Breckinridge, II (1844–1906) Major in the C.S.A. Married Sallie Frances Johnson, daughter of

Robert Ward Johnson Robert Ward Johnson (July 22, 1814 – July 26, 1879) was an American planter and lawyer who served as the senior Confederate States senator for Arkansas, a seat that he was elected to in 1861. He previously served as a delegate from Arkansas ...

in 1869. Son of Hon. John Cabell Breckinridge.Selected Genealogy Chart
. Breckinridge.com (April 18, 1999). Retrieved on October 19, 2011. * Clifton Rhodes Breckinridge (1846–1932), U.S. Representative from

Arkansas Arkansas ( ) is a landlocked state in the South Central United States. It is bordered by Missouri to the north, Tennessee and Mississippi to the east, Louisiana to the south, and Texas and Oklahoma to the west. Its name is from the O ...

1883–1889 1890–1895, U.S. Minister to

Russia Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It is the largest country in the world, with its internationally recognised territory covering , and encompassing one-ei ...

1894–1897, delegate to the Arkansas Constitutional Convention 1917. Married Katherine Breckinridge Carson in 1876. Son of Hon. John Cabell Breckinridge. * John Witherspoon "Owen" Breckinridge (1850–1892) Member of

California State Assembly The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature, the upper house being the California State Senate. The Assembly convenes, along with the State Senate, at the California State Capitol in Sacramento. The ...

1884–85. Son of Hon. John Cabell Breckinridge. Married to Louise Tevis, daughter of

Lloyd Tevis Lloyd Tevis (March 20, 1824 – July 24, 1899) was a banker and capitalist who served as president of Wells Fargo & Company from 1872 to 1892. Early life Lloyd Tevis was born in Shelbyville, Kentucky, the son of Samuel and Sarah (née Greathouse) ...

, First President of

Wells Fargo Bank Wells Fargo & Company is an American multinational financial services company with corporate headquarters in San Francisco, California; operational headquarters in Manhattan; and managerial offices throughout the United States and int ...

. * Margaret Miller Breckinridge (1851–1919) Married St. Louis, Missouri businessman William Strudwick Long. Daughter of Samuel Miller Breckinridge. *

Benjamin Breckinridge Warfield Benjamin Breckinridge Warfield (November 5, 1851 – February 16, 1921) was professor of theology at Princeton Seminary from 1887 to 1921. He served as the last principal of the Princeton Theological Seminary from 1886 to 1902. After the death ...

(1851–1921),

Presbyterian Presbyterianism is a part of the Reformed tradition within Protestantism that broke from the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland by John Knox, who was a priest at St. Giles Cathedral (Church of Scotland). Presbyterian churches derive their n ...

theologian Theology is the systematic study of the nature of the divine and, more broadly, of religious belief. It is taught as an academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itself with the unique content of analyzing the ...

, principal of

. Son of Mary Cabell Breckinridge and William Warfield. * Peter Augustus Porter (1853–1925), member of the New York Legislature, U.S. Representative from New York 1907–1909. Married Alice Adelle Taylor (1853–1934). Son of Peter Augustus Porter and Mary Cabell Breckinridge, Grandson of Peter Buell Porter. *

Ethelbert Dudley Warfield Ethelbert Dudley Warfield, D.D., LL.D. (March 16, 1861 – July 6, 1936) was an American professor of history and college president who served as president of Miami University, Lafayette College and Wilson College. As Miami University's younge ...

(1861–1936) Graduate of

Princeton Princeton University is a private research university in Princeton, New Jersey. Founded in 1746 in Elizabeth as the College of New Jersey, Princeton is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and one of the nin ...

Oxford Oxford () is a city in England. It is the county town and only city of Oxfordshire. In 2020, its population was estimated at 151,584. It is north-west of London, south-east of Birmingham and north-east of Bristol. The city is home to the ...

, and

Columbia Law School Columbia Law School (Columbia Law or CLS) is the law school of Columbia University, a private Ivy League university in New York City. Columbia Law is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious law schools in the world and has always ranked i ...

. President of

Miami University Miami University (informally Miami of Ohio or simply Miami) is a public research university in Oxford, Ohio. The university was founded in 1809, making it the second-oldest university in Ohio (behind Ohio University, founded in 1804) and the ...

and

Lafayette College Lafayette College is a private liberal arts college in Easton, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1826 by James Madison Porter and other citizens in Easton, the college first held classes in 1832. The founders voted to name the college after General Laf ...

, author, Director of

. Son of Mary Cabell Breckinridge and William Warfield. * L. Irving Handy (1861–1922), U.S. Representative from

Delaware Delaware ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Maryland to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and New Jersey and the Atlantic Ocean to its east. The state takes its name from the adjacent ...

1897–1899, delegate to the Democratic National Convention 1904. Son of Marie Lettice Preston Breckinridge and Rev. William Collins Handy. Nephew of William Campbell Preston Breckinridge. *

Desha Breckinridge Desha Breckinridge (August 5, 1867 – February 18, 1935) 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 b ...

(1867–1935), editor and publisher of the

Lexington Herald The ''Lexington Herald-Leader'' is a newspaper owned by the McClatchy Company and based in Lexington, Kentucky. According to the ''1999 Editor & Publisher International Yearbook'', the paid circulation of the ''Herald-Leader'' is the second large ...

. Married Madeline McDowell Breckinridge, great-granddaughter of

in 1898. Son of W.C.P. Breckinridge. Brother of

Sophonisba Breckinridge Sophonisba Preston Breckinridge (April 1, 1866 – July 30, 1948) was an American activist, Progressive Era social reformer, social scientist and innovator in higher education. She was the first woman to earn a Ph.D. in political science and ...

. * John Cabell Breckinridge, II (1870–1941) Prominent New York attorney. Married to Isabella Goodrich (1874–1961), daughter of B.F. Goodrich. Son of Joseph Cabell Breckinridge. Grandson of John Cabell Breckinridge. * Joseph Cabell Breckinridge Jr. (1872–1898), U.S. Naval officer, drowned. Namesake of USS Breckinridge. Son of Joseph Cabell Breckinridge Sr. * Ethelbert Ludlow Dudley Breckinridge (1875–1914) Graduated Princeton 1898, Captain in U.S. Army, wounded in the

Philippine–American War The Philippine–American War or Filipino–American War ( es, Guerra filipina-estadounidense, tl, Digmaang Pilipino–Amerikano), previously referred to as the Philippine Insurrection or the Tagalog Insurgency by the United States, was an arm ...

. Son of Joseph Cabell Breckinridge Sr. Married Genevieve Pearson Mattingly (1878–1957). * Peter Augustus Porter Jr. (b. 1877). Married Geneva Thompson in 1907. *

James Carson Breckinridge James Carson Breckinridge (September 13, 1877 – March 2, 1942) was a lieutenant general of the United States Marine Corps. He was the son of Clifton Rhodes Breckinridge and grandson of Vice President and Confederate Major General John C. Breck ...

(1877–1942) Lieutenant General,

USMC The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for conducting expeditionary and amphibious operations through co ...

, Married Dorothy Throckmorton Thompson, 1922. Son of Clifton Rhodes Breckinridge.Breckinridge Biographies 2
. Breckinridge.com. Retrieved on October 19, 2011. * Lloyd Tevis Breckinridge (1878–1901) Son of John Witherspoon "Owen" Breckinridge. * John Cabell Breckinridge Sr. (1879–1914) Prominent San Francisco businessman. Son of John Witherspoon "Owen" Breckinridge. Married Adelaide Murphy, daughter of Samuel Green Murphy, President of the First National Bank of San Francisco, California. * Cabell Breckinridge Porter (b. 1881), illustrator. Married Grace S. Sizer. * Samuel Miller Breckinridge Long (1881–1958) lawyer and diplomat. Graduated Princeton in 1904. Advisor to Presidents Woodrow Wilson and Franklin Delano Roosevelt. U.S. Ambassador to Italy 1933–36. U.S. delegate to

Dumbarton Oaks Conference The Dumbarton Oaks Conference, or, more formally, the Washington Conversations on International Peace and Security Organization, was an international conference at which proposals for the establishment of a "general international organization", w ...

. Son of Margaret Miller Breckinridge and William Strudwick Long. * Mary Breckinridge (1881–1965), Founder of the Frontier Nursing Service. Married Richard Thompson. Daughter of Clifton Rhodes Breckinridge, sister of James Carson Breckinridge. * Scott Dudley Breckinridge Sr. (1882–1941) Physician in

Lexington, Kentucky Lexington is a city in Kentucky, United States that is the county seat of Fayette County. By population, it is the second-largest city in Kentucky and 57th-largest city in the United States. By land area, it is the country's 28th-largest ...

, author, U.S. Fencing Champion (Foil), 1906 and 1914. Competed in

1912 Olympic Games Year 191 ( CXCI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Apronianus and Bradua (or, less frequently, year 944 ''Ab urbe condit ...

in Stockholm. Married Gertrude Ashby Bayne. Son of Joseph Cabell Breckinridge Sr. * Sophonisba Preston Breckinridge (1886–1948), Lawyer, Activist involved in Women's rights, Civil Rights, Labor, and Pacifist movements; namesake of

Breckinridge House Housing at the University of Chicago includes seven residence halls that are divided into 48 houses. Each house has an average of 70 students. Freshmen and sophomores must live on-campus. Limited on-campus housing is available to juniors and senior ...

, a dormitory of the University of Chicago. Daughter of W.C.P. Breckinridge. Sister of Desha Breckinridge. *

Henry Skillman Breckinridge Henry Skillman Breckinridge (May 25, 1886 – May 2, 1960) 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 Lindb ...

(1886–1960), Colonel in U.S. Army,

United States Assistant Secretary of War The United States Assistant Secretary of War was the second–ranking official within the American Department of War from 1861 to 1867, from 1882 to 1883, and from 1890 to 1940. According to thMilitary Laws of the United States "The act of August ...

, prominent attorney, U.S Fencing Champion (Épée), 1924. Son of Joseph Cabell Breckinridge Sr. Married Ruth Bradley Woodman in 1910, member of prominent New England Perkins Family. * Preston Buell Porter (1891–1978). Married Margaret Ransom (b. 1894) * John Cabell "Bunny" Breckinridge Jr. (1903–1996) Actor and drag queen. Son of John Cabell Breckinridge Sr. * Mary Marvin Breckinridge (1905–2002), Photojournalist, cinematographer, and philanthropist. Daughter of John Cabell Breckinridge, II and Isabella Goodrich. Great-granddaughter of John Cabell Breckinridge and granddaughter of B.F. Goodrich. * William Mattingly Breckinridge (1905–1996)

Major General Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of ...

, U.S. Army. Chief of the U.S. Army Security Agency. Married Frances Naylor. Son of Ethelbert Ludlow Dudley Breckinridge. * Elizabeth Foster Breckinridge (1911–2005), Prominent Washington, D.C. socialite and philanthropist. Daughter of Henry Skillman Breckinridge. Married to John Stephens Graham, attorney, Assistant U.S. Secretary of Treasury, Commissioner of U.S. Atomic Energy Commission,

Commissioner of Internal Revenue The Commissioner of Internal Revenue is the head of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), an agency within the United States Department of the Treasury. The office of Commissioner was created by Congress as part of the Revenue Act of 1862. Section ...

, brother of Katherine G. Howard. *

John Bayne Breckinridge John Bayne Breckinridge (November 29, 1913 – July 29, 1979) was an American politician, a Democrat who served as Attorney General of Kentucky twice and also served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Kentucky. E ...

(1913–1979), Colonel in U.S. Army during World War II. Kentucky State Representative 1956–59,

Attorney General of Kentucky The Attorney General of Kentucky is an office created by the Kentucky Constitution. (Ky.Const. § 91). Under Kentucky law, they serve several roles, including the state's chief prosecutor (KRS 15.700), the state's chief law enforcement officer (K ...

1960–64, 1968–1972, delegate to the

1960, U.S. Representative from Kentucky 1973–79. Son of Scott Dudley Breckinridge Sr. * Scott Dudley Breckinridge Jr. (1917–2000) Deputy Inspector General of the C.I.A., author. Married Helen Virden Babbit. Son of Scott Dudley Breckinridge Sr.

Prominent non-family members

Francis Preston Francis Preston (August 2, 1765 – May 26, 1835) was an American lawyer and politician from Abingdon, Virginia. He was the son of Col. William Preston of Virginia, served in both houses of the state legislature, and represented Virginia in th ...

(1765–1836), Virginia House Delegate 1788–1789 1812–1814, U.S. Representative from Virginia 1793–1797, Virginia State Senator 1816–1820. Cousin of John Brown, John Breckinridge, and James Breckinridge, Grandson of Robert Preston. * William Campbell Preston (1794–1860),

South Carolina )''Animis opibusque parati'' ( for, , Latin, Prepared in mind and resources, links=no) , anthem = " Carolina";" South Carolina On My Mind" , Former = Province of South Carolina , seat = Columbia , LargestCity = Charleston , LargestMetro = ...

State Representative 1828–1834, U.S. Senator from South Carolina 1833–1842. Son of Francis Preston. *

William Ballard Preston William Ballard Preston (November 25, 1805 – November 16, 1862) was an American politician who served as a Confederate States Senator from Virginia from February 18, 1862, until his death in November. He previously served as the 19th United S ...

(1805–1862), Virginia House Delegate 1830–1832 1844–1845, Virginia State Senator 1840–1844, U.S. Representative from Virginia 1847–1849, U.S. Secretary of War 1849–1850, Delegate to the

Confederate States The Confederate States of America (CSA), commonly referred to as the Confederate States or the Confederacy was an unrecognized breakaway republic in the Southern United States that existed from February 8, 1861, to May 9, 1865. The Confeder ...

Congress from Virginia 1861–1862, Confederate States Senator from Virginia 1862. Nephew of Francis Preston. * William Preston (1816–1887), delegate to the Kentucky Constitutional Convention 1849, Kentucky State Representative 1850 1868–1869, Kentucky State Senator 1851–1853, U.S. Representative from Kentucky 1852–1855, delegate to the Democratic National Convention 1856, U.S. Minister to Spain 1859–1861. Nephew of Francis Preston. * John Brown (1757–1837),

Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth are ...

State Senator 1784–1788, Delegate to the Continental Congress from Virginia 1787–1788, U.S. Representative from Virginia 1789–1792, U.S. Senator from Kentucky 1792–1805. Brother of James Brown, Cousin of John Breckinridge, James Breckinridge, and Francis Preston. * B. Gratz Brown (1826–1885),

Missouri Missouri is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking 21st in land area, it is bordered by eight states (tied for the most with Tennessee): Iowa to the north, Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee to the east, Arkansas t ...

State Representative 1852–1858, delegate to the Republican National Convention 1860, U.S. Senator from Missouri 1863–1867, Governor of Missouri 1871–1873, candidate for Vice President of the United States 1872. Grandson of John Brown. *

James Brown James Joseph Brown (May 3, 1933 – December 25, 2006) was an American singer, dancer, musician, record producer and bandleader. The central progenitor of funk music and a major figure of 20th century music, he is often referred to by the hono ...

(1766–1835), U.S. District Attorney in Kentucky 1791, Kentucky Secretary of State 1792–1798, Secretary of the

Territory of Orleans The Territory of Orleans or Orleans Territory was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from October 1, 1804, until April 30, 1812, when it was admitted to the Union as the State of Louisiana. History In 180 ...

1804, U.S. District Attorney in

Louisiana Louisiana , group=pronunciation (French: ''La Louisiane'') is a state in the Deep South and South Central regions of the United States. It is the 20th-smallest by area and the 25th most populous of the 50 U.S. states. Louisiana is bord ...

1805–1808, U.S. Senator from Louisiana 1813–1817 1819–1823, U.S. Minister to France 1823–1829. Brother of John Brown, Cousin of John Breckinridge, James Breckinridge, and Francis Preston. *

Thomas H. Clay Thomas Hart Clay (1803–1871) was the U.S. ambassador to Honduras and Nicaragua, and the son of Henry Clay Henry Clay Sr. (April 12, 1777June 29, 1852) was an American attorney and statesman who represented Kentucky in both the U.S. Senate ...

(1803–1871), U.S. Minister to

Nicaragua Nicaragua (; ), officially the Republic of Nicaragua (), is the largest country in Central America, bordered by Honduras to the north, the Caribbean to the east, Costa Rica to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Managua is the coun ...

1863, U.S. Minister to

Honduras Honduras, officially the Republic of Honduras, is a country in Central America. The republic of Honduras is bordered to the west by Guatemala, to the southwest by El Salvador, to the southeast by Nicaragua, to the south by the Pacific Oce ...

1863. Father-in-law of William Campbell Preston Breckinridge. * Henry Donnel Foster (1808–1880), U.S. Representative from

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...

1843–1847 1871–1873, Pennsylvania State Representative 1857, candidate for Governor of Pennsylvania 1860. Cousin of John C. Breckinridge. NOTE: Peter B. Porter was also uncle of U.S. Senator Augustus S. Porter. Thomas H. Clay was also son of Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives

, brother of U.S. Representative James Brown Clay, third cousin of U.S. diplomat Brutus Clay, fourth cousin of U.S. Senator Clement Claiborne Clay Jr., first cousin twice removed of U.S. Representative

Matthew Clay Matthew Clay (March 25, 1754May 27, 1815) was a Virginia lawyer, planter, Continental Army officer and politician who served in the United States House of Representatives and the Virginia House of Delegates representing Pittsylvania County. E ...

and Kentucky State Senator Green Clay, third cousin once removed of U.S. Senator

Clement Comer Clay Clement Comer Clay (December 17, 1789 – September 6, 1866) was the eighth Governor of the U.S. state of Alabama from 1835 to 1837. An attorney, judge and politician, he also was elected to the state legislature, as well as to the House of Rep ...

, and second cousin once removed of

Alabama (We dare defend our rights) , anthem = " Alabama" , image_map = Alabama in United States.svg , seat = Montgomery , LargestCity = Huntsville , LargestCounty = Baldwin County , LargestMetro = Greater Birmingham , area_total_km2 = 135,7 ...

State Senator Matthew Clay, U.S. Representative

Brutus J. Clay Brutus Junius Clay (July 1, 1808 – October 11, 1878) was a U.S. Representative from Kentucky, and a son of Green Clay. His brother Cassius Marcellus Clay also was a politician in the state, and they both joined the Unionist Party at the tim ...

, and U.S. diplomat Cassius M. Clay.Index to Politicians: Clarke-streett to Claytee
The Political Graveyard. Retrieved on October 19, 2011.

Family tree

* Alexander Breckenridge (1686–1743) ∞ Jane Preston (c. 1690–1746) (granddaughter of

William Stewart, 1st Viscount Mountjoy William Stewart, 1st Viscount Mountjoy (1653–1692), was an Anglo-Irish soldier. Early life William Stewart was born in 1653, the son of Sir Alexander Stewart, 2nd Baronet, of Ramelton. His family was from Donegal, Ulster Scots, and Protest ...

) ** Robert Preston Breckenridge Sr. (1720–1773) ∞ (1) Mary Poage (1732–c. 1757) ∞ (2) Letitia Preston (1729–1797) *** Alexander Breckenridge (1752–1801) ∞ Jane Buchanan Floyd (1759–1812) (mother of John Floyd) **** James Douglas Breckinridge (1781–1849) ∞ Mary Eliza Grayson (1795–1830) *** Robert Breckenridge (1754–1833) ∞ Margaret Douglas (1740–1790) **** James Breckenridge (1774–1853) ∞ Eva Hockersmith (c. 1783–1861) ***

(1760–1806) ∞ 1785: Mary Hopkins Cabell **** Letitia Breckinridge ∞ (1) 1804: Alfred William Grayson (d. 1810) (son of Senator

); ∞ (2) 1818:

(1773–1844) ***** General

(1806–1862) ***** Colonel Peter Augustus Porter (1827–1864) ∞ 1852: Mary Cabell Breckinridge (1826–1854) ****** Peter Augustus Porter (1853–1925) ∞ Alice Adelle Taylor (1853–1934) ******* Peter Augustus Porter Jr. (b. 1877) ∞ 1907: Geneva Thompson ******* Cabell Breckinridge Porter (b. 1881) ∞ Grace S. Sizer ******* Preston Buell Porter (1891–1978) ∞ Margaret Ransom (b. 1894) **** Joseph "Cabell" Breckinridge I (1788–1823) ∞ Mary Clay Smith (daughter of Samuel Stanhope Smith) *****

(1821–1875) ∞ Mary Cyrene Burch (1826–1907) ****** Joseph Cabell Breckinridge, II (1844–1906) ∞ 1869: Sallie Frances Johnson (daughter of

) ******* John Cabell Breckinridge, II (1870–1941) ∞ Isabella Goodrich (1874–1961) (daughter of B.F. Goodrich) ******** Mary Marvin Breckinridge (1905–2002) ∞ 1940: Jefferson Patterson ****** Clifton Rhodes Breckinridge (1846–1932) ∞ 1876: Married Katherine Breckinridge Carson *******

(1877–1942) ∞ 1922: Dorothy Throckmorton Thompson ******* Mary Breckinridge (1881–1965) ∞ Richard Thompson ****** John Witherspoon "Owen" Breckinridge (1850–1892) ∞ Louise Tevis (daughter of

) ******* Lloyd Tevis Breckinridge (1878–1901) ******* John Cabell Breckinridge Sr. (1879–1914) ∞ Adelaide Murphy, (daughter of Samuel Green Murphy) ******** John Cabell "Bunny" Breckinridge Jr. (1903–1996) ∞ 1927: (div. 1929) Roselle du Val de Dampierre (1903-1999) ******* Florence Louise Breckinridge (1881–1956) ∞

Thomas Fermor-Hesketh, 1st Baron Hesketh Thomas Fermor-Hesketh, 1st Baron Hesketh (17 November 1881 – 20 July 1944), known as Sir Thomas Fermor-Hesketh, Bt, from 1924 to 1935, was a British peer, soldier and Conservative Member of Parliament. Early life Hesketh was the son of Sir T ...

**** Rev. John Breckinridge, D. D. (1797–1841) ∞ 1823: Margaret Miller (daughter of Rev. Samuel Miller D. D.) ***** Mary Cabell Breckinridge (1826–1854) ∞ 1852: Colonel Peter Augustus Porter (1853–1925) ***** Margaret Elizabeth Breckinridge (1831-1864) ***** Samuel Miller Breckinridge (1828–1891) ∞ Virginia Harrison Castleman. ****** Margaret Miller Breckinridge (1851–1919) ∞ William Strudwick Long ******* Samuel Miller Breckinridge Long (1881–1958) ∞ 1912: Christine Alexander Graham ****

(1800–1871) ∞ 1823: Ann Sophonisba Preston (sister of William Campbell Preston) ***** Mary Cabell Breckinridge, (born 1828) ∞ William Warfield ******

(1851–1921) ∞ 1876: Annie Pierce Kinkead ******

(1861–1936) ∞ (1) Sarah Lacy Brookes (1864–1886) ∞ (2) 1890: Nellie Frances Tilton (1864–1941) ***** Robert Jefferson Breckinridge Jr. (1834–1915) ∞ 1856: Katharine Morrison ***** Marie Lettice Preston Breckinridge (born 1836) ∞ 1857: Rev. William Collins Handy ****** Levin Irving Handy (1861–1922) ∞ 1887: Mary Bell ***** William Campbell Preston Breckinridge (1837–1904) ∞ Lucretia Hart Clay (granddaughter of

) ******

(1867–1935) ∞ Madeline McDowell (1872–1920) (daughter of Henry Clay McDowell) ****** Sophonisba Preston Breckinridge (1886–1948) ***** Joseph Cabell Breckinridge Sr. (1842–1921) ∞ 1868: Louise Ludlow Dudley (1849–1911) (daughter of Ethelbert Ludlow Dudley) ****** Joseph Cabell Breckinridge Jr. (1872–1898) ****** Ethelbert Ludlow Dudley Breckinridge (1875–1914) ∞ Genevieve Pearson Mattingly (1878–1957) ******* William Mattingly Breckinridge (1905–1996) ∞ Frances Naylor ****** Dr. Scott Dudley Breckinridge Sr. (1882–1941) ∞ Gertrude Ashby Bayne (1883–1981) *******

(1913–1979) ∞ Helen Congleton (1916–2000) ******* Scott Dudley Breckinridge Jr. (1917–2000) ∞ Helen Virden Babbit ******

(1886–1960) ∞ (1) 1910: (div. 1925) Ruth Bradley Woodman; ∞ (2) 1927: (div. 1947)

Aida de Acosta Aida de Acosta Root Breckinridge (July 28, 1884 – May 26, 1962) was an American socialite and aviator. She was the first woman to fly a powered aircraft solo. In 1903, while in Paris with her mother, she caught her first glimpse of dirigibles. ...

(1881–1962); ∞ (3) 1947: Margaret Lucy ******* Elizabeth Foster Breckinridge (1911–2005) ∞ John Stephens Graham (1905–1976) (son of

Margaret Nowell Graham Margaret Nowell Graham (1867–1942) was an American artist who painted watercolors of flowers and landscapes. She was the mother of two national political figures Katherine G. Howard, Secretary of the Republican Party and advisor to President D ...

) ***** Charles Henry Breckinridge (1844-1867) ***** John Robert Breckinridge (1850-1874) **** Rev. William Lewis Breckinridge, D. D. (1803–1876) ***

(1763–1833) ∞ Ann Cary Selden (1770–1843) **** Letitia Breckinridge (1791–1866) ∞ Robert Gamble (1781–1867) **** Elizabeth Breckinridge (1794–1862) ∞ Edward Watts (1779–1859) **** Cary Breckinridge (1796–1867) ∞ Emma Walker Gilmer (1807–1893) **** Matilda Breckinridge (1799–1869) ∞ Henry Winston Bowyer (1799–1876)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Breckinridge Family Political families of the United States American families of Scotch-Irish ancestry Families from Kentucky

Prominent members

Prominent non-family members

Family tree

See also

References