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Breckinridge: Statesman, Soldier, Symbol
At the age of thirty-five, John C. Breckinridge was the vice president of the United States. Later he came closest to defeating Abraham Lincoln for the presidency in 1860. In a short time he became secretary of war in the Confederate cabinet. This -- the first -- comprehensive biography of this remarkable man and his generation covers one of the turbulent eras of the American past.
Breckinridge was a Kentucky lawyer and veteran of the Mexican War when he was elected to the state legislature in 1849. Soon thereafter he was elected to Congress and in 1856 became James Buchanan's running mate. After his defeat by Lincoln in the 1860 election, he took his seat in the Senate and supported the Union on the question of succession. Because he opposed most of Lincoln's other policies, he was considered dangerous. When Lincoln ordered him arrested, even though no charges had been filed against him, Breckinridge escaped to the South and joined the Confederate army as a brigadier general. Later he was appointed secretary of war by Jefferson Davis.
Prominent in every field he entered, Breckinridge was a leading statesman and soldier. As a moderate and earnest supporter of compromise, he became the symbol of peaceful reconciliation between the states after the Civil War.
Breckinridge was a Kentucky lawyer and veteran of the Mexican War when he was elected to the state legislature in 1849. Soon thereafter he was elected to Congress and in 1856 became James Buchanan's running mate. After his defeat by Lincoln in the 1860 election, he took his seat in the Senate and supported the Union on the question of succession. Because he opposed most of Lincoln's other policies, he was considered dangerous. When Lincoln ordered him arrested, even though no charges had been filed against him, Breckinridge escaped to the South and joined the Confederate army as a brigadier general. Later he was appointed secretary of war by Jefferson Davis.
Prominent in every field he entered, Breckinridge was a leading statesman and soldier. As a moderate and earnest supporter of compromise, he became the symbol of peaceful reconciliation between the states after the Civil War.
712 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1974
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About the author
William C. Davis
318 books94 followersCurrently professor of history at Virginia Tech, William C. Davis has written over fifty books, most about the American Civil War. He has won the Jefferson Davis Prize for southern history three times, the Jules F. Landry Award for Southern history once, and has been twice nominated for the Pulitzer Prize.
For several years, he was the editor of the magazine Civil War Times Illustrated. He has also served as a consultant on the A&E television series Civil War Journal.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
For several years, he was the editor of the magazine Civil War Times Illustrated. He has also served as a consultant on the A&E television series Civil War Journal.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
November 17, 2019
When John Cabell Breckinridge was elected Vice President on the Democratic ticket along with James
Buchanan he was and still is the youngest Vice President in our history. Four years after his term
was up Breckinridge was fleeing the USA because he had become a Confederate general and in the
final months of the Confederacy its Secretary of War.
Breckinridge came from a distinguished Kentucky family, his grandfather had been in the US Senate
and Attorney General with Thomas Jefferson. Breckinridge served in the Mexican War and resumed
the law practice he had before that war. In 1850 he ran and won a seat in the House of Representatives and served two terms. Breckinridge supported states rights and the Kansas-Nebraska Act which allowed for the settlers in that territory to choose between free or slave state
status. When his district was gerrymandered in a reapportionment Breckinridge declined to run.
In 1856 Breckinridge as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention was a supporter of renominating Franklin Pierce. When James Buchanan was nominated and Buchanan was 65 years
old the powers that be thought a younger running mate was in order.
Buchanan ignored Brecknridge in his term in office. But Breckinridge did solidify his states rights
pro-southern credentials.
Come 1860 and the Democratic party blew apart. Stephen Douglas got the regular Democratic
nomination, but a rump faction of southern delegates nominated Breckinridge with Joseph Lane
of Oregon as the Vice Presidential. With Douglas, Breckinridge and a Union party ticket headed
by John Bell, Abraham Lincoln carried all the northern states and won the Electoral College. Breckinridge with one exception carried the states that became the Confederacy.
His home state of Kentucky elected him to the Senate and he did serve the greater part of 1861
there as a critic of the Lincoln administration. In the end he defected and joined the Confederate
army and was commissioned a general.
Breckinridge did distinguish himself in action and was involved in battles such as Shiloh, Chickamagua and Cold Harbor. When the Civil War was in its last months Jefferson Davis made
Breckinridge Secretary of War where his main task seemed to be insuring that a lot of Confederate
government top officials escaped. Breckinridge and his family fled to Canada and then to Europe
where he did a lot of traveling.
When he got back to Kentucky Breckinridge assumes the role of a young elder statesman. He
worked hard for reconciliation and gets high marks from me for denouncing the Ku Klux Klan.
Breckinridge dies in 1875.
As Breckinridge's career spans both political and military history, both political and military
historians will find much to praise in author William C. Davis's book.
Buchanan he was and still is the youngest Vice President in our history. Four years after his term
was up Breckinridge was fleeing the USA because he had become a Confederate general and in the
final months of the Confederacy its Secretary of War.
Breckinridge came from a distinguished Kentucky family, his grandfather had been in the US Senate
and Attorney General with Thomas Jefferson. Breckinridge served in the Mexican War and resumed
the law practice he had before that war. In 1850 he ran and won a seat in the House of Representatives and served two terms. Breckinridge supported states rights and the Kansas-Nebraska Act which allowed for the settlers in that territory to choose between free or slave state
status. When his district was gerrymandered in a reapportionment Breckinridge declined to run.
In 1856 Breckinridge as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention was a supporter of renominating Franklin Pierce. When James Buchanan was nominated and Buchanan was 65 years
old the powers that be thought a younger running mate was in order.
Buchanan ignored Brecknridge in his term in office. But Breckinridge did solidify his states rights
pro-southern credentials.
Come 1860 and the Democratic party blew apart. Stephen Douglas got the regular Democratic
nomination, but a rump faction of southern delegates nominated Breckinridge with Joseph Lane
of Oregon as the Vice Presidential. With Douglas, Breckinridge and a Union party ticket headed
by John Bell, Abraham Lincoln carried all the northern states and won the Electoral College. Breckinridge with one exception carried the states that became the Confederacy.
His home state of Kentucky elected him to the Senate and he did serve the greater part of 1861
there as a critic of the Lincoln administration. In the end he defected and joined the Confederate
army and was commissioned a general.
Breckinridge did distinguish himself in action and was involved in battles such as Shiloh, Chickamagua and Cold Harbor. When the Civil War was in its last months Jefferson Davis made
Breckinridge Secretary of War where his main task seemed to be insuring that a lot of Confederate
government top officials escaped. Breckinridge and his family fled to Canada and then to Europe
where he did a lot of traveling.
When he got back to Kentucky Breckinridge assumes the role of a young elder statesman. He
worked hard for reconciliation and gets high marks from me for denouncing the Ku Klux Klan.
Breckinridge dies in 1875.
As Breckinridge's career spans both political and military history, both political and military
historians will find much to praise in author William C. Davis's book.
July 2, 2011
It isn't the most exciting read, but if you like historical details, you'll find plenty of them here. This is an EXHAUSTIVE biography of a mostly forgotten statesman and military figure. Some portions require a mighty slog to get through, and unfortunately one chapter is riddled with typos. But I can honestly say that I feel like I am now intimately acquainted with the late Mr. Breckinridge, and that was the whole point of reading the book.
March 7, 2023
A forgotten and honorable statesman
At a time in US history when so many famous men made their mark, J.C.Breckinridge should be included in the top 10. Great book about a great,
level headed American trying his best to keep his country in one piece.
At a time in US history when so many famous men made their mark, J.C.Breckinridge should be included in the top 10. Great book about a great,
level headed American trying his best to keep his country in one piece.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews