Breckinridge, John Cabell (1821-1875), was vice president of the United States and, later, a Confederate general in the American Civil War. Breckinridge served as vice president from 1857 to 1861, under President James Buchanan. He took office at the age of 36 and is the youngest person ever to serve as vice president. In 1860, the Southern wing of the divided Democratic Party nominated him for president. Breckinridge came in second in the four-candidate presidential election, losing to Republican Abraham Lincoln. The Civil War began in 1861, soon after Lincoln took office.
As a Confederate general, Breckinridge fought in many battles, including Shiloh, Stones River (Murfreesboro), Vicksburg, Jackson, and Chickamauga. He was Confederate secretary of war in 1865.
Breckinridge was born on Jan. 21, 1821, near Lexington, Kentucky. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1851 to 1855. In 1861, Breckinridge became a U.S. senator. But he was soon expelled from the Senate because of his membership in the Confederate Army. He died on May 17, 1875.
See also Stones River, Battle of .
