Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 01.djvu/419

 BRECK.

BRECKINRIDGE.

was interested in other important measures. He was appointed judge of the suiH'enie court of Kentucky in 1843, retiring in 1849 to serve as a representative in the 31st Congress. He was then re-elected president of the Richmond bank. Transylvania university conferred on him the degree of LL.D. in 1843. He died Feb. 4, 1871.

BRECK, James Lloyd, missionary, was born in Philadelphia, June 27, 1818. He studied under Dr. Muhlenberg at Flushing, N. Y., was graduated at the University of Pennsylvania in 1838, and at the General theological seminary, New- York, in 1841. With William Adams and John H. Hobart, two of his divinity school classmates, he engaged in mission work in the west, under direction of Prior Cadle, an army chaplain sta- tioned at Fort Crawford, Wis., who within one year left them, when they purchased a large tract of land on the shores of the Nashotah lakes, and foimded the Nashotah theological seminary in 1842. The ascetic founders, however, made the mistake of attempting to impose their own too severe code of regulations upon the students, and the venture proved a failure. In 1851 Mr. Breck removed to Minnesota, where he established mis- sions for work among the Chippewas, and in 1858 he foimded a system of schools for both sexes at Faribault, Minn., and later a theological semi- nary at the same place. California was his next field of labor, and upon his arrival there he set him- self to the work of establishing schools. He settled at Benicia, and St. Augustine's college, grammar school, and divinity school were estab- lished and placed under the management of a board of trustees. Work was then begun on St. Mary's haU, a young ladies' seminary, but Dr. Breck did not live to see its completion. He was the author of "A Commtmication on Parish Sisterhoods" (1863), and " Disciplines, Instruc- tive and Devotional, to be used in Preparation fcr Baptism, Confirmation and the Commtmion." He died at Benicia, Cal., March 80, 1876.

BRECK, Samuel, soldier, was born at Middle- borough, Mass., Feb. 25, 1834. He was gradu- ated at West Point in 1855 ; engaged against the Seminoles in 1855-'56, and was assistant professor of geography, history and ethics at the military academy from September, 1860, to Dec. 3, 1861, when he was appointed assistant adjutant- general on the staff of General McDowell, who was in command of a division in the defence of Washington. He was later appointed to the de- partment of the Rappahannock, being present at the occupation of Fredericksburg, and taking part in the Shenandoah valley expedition. In 1862 he was transferred to the adjutant-general's department at Washington, and placed in charge of rolls, returns and books, of all business relating to the enhsted men of the regular and volun-

teer troops. He was brevetted lievitenant-colonel, colonel, and brigadier-general, 1864-"65, was as- sistant adjutant-general with the rank of major, stationed at San Francisco, Cal., 1870-'77, and at various other posts, 1877-'98. He was promoted lieutenant-colonel, Feb. 28, 1887; colonel, Aug. 31, 1893; brigadier-general, Sept. 11, 1897, and was retired Feb. 25, 1^98.

BRECKINRIDGE, Clifton Rodes, diplomatist, was born at Lexington, Ky., Nov. 22, 1846; son of John C. Breckinridge, vice-president of the United States. He received a common school education, and served as a private in the Con- federate army, and as midshipman in the navy. At the close of the civil war he was for two years a clerk in a commercial house. He then attended Washington college, Virginia, for three years, and subseciuently became a cotton planter in Arkansas. In 1882 he was elected a represen- tative to the 48th Congress from the state at large, and was re-elected to the 49th and four succeeding congresses. He resigned before the close of the term. He was a prominent member of the ways and means committee, and an advo- cate of Wilson's tariff bill. In July, 1894, he was appointed by President Cleveland minister to Russia, to succeed Hon. Tlieodore Runyon, deceased, and served until 1896.

BRECKINRIDGE, James, statesman, was born near Fincastle. Va., March 7, 1763; son of Robert Breckinridge, and grandson of a Scotch covenanter who escaped to America upon the restoration of the Stuarts. He was educated at Williaiu and Mary college, and was admitted to the bar in 1787. He was leader of the Federal party in Virginia, and was a representative in the 11th and three succeeding congresses. He aided Jefferson in founding the University of Virginia, and was one of the leading promoters of the Chesapeake and Ohio canal. His brother, John Breckinridge, was U. S. attorney-general in the cabinet of Jefferson. He died near Fincastle, Va., Aug. 9, 1846.

BRECKINRIDGE, John, statesman, was born in Augusta coimty, Va., Dec. 3, 1760; son of Robert Breckinridge, who died at Fincastle, Botetourt county, in 1771. He entered AVdliam and Mary college in 1778, where he con- tinued for two years, and he was about to commence his third year when he was apprised of his election to represent his county in the Virginia house of delegates. He was but nine- teen years of age ; the people had selected him despite his youth, but the house of delegates set aside the election because he was not of legal age. The hardy frontiei'smen promptly re-elected him, and the house of delegates again annulled the choice, but when the people a third time de- manded his admission, the "selected wisdom of