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Main Street Old Courthouse Lawn, Lexington
John Cabell Breckinridge, 1821-75, one of four Kentuckians-more than any other state, except New York-who were U.S. Vice Presidents. Others were Adlai E. Stevenson, Richard M. Johnson, and Alben W. Barkley. In U.S. Congress, 1851-55. Elected Vice-President in 1856. Candidate of Southern Democrats for President in 1860, carrying nine Southern States. See over.
Vice President, Cont. - Breckinridge served as a major of Kentucky Volunteers, Mexican War. Elected to U.S. Senate in 1860. Became brig. general Confederate Army, 1861, and was expelled from the Senate. In battles of Shiloh, Chattanooga, Murfreesboro, and others. Confederate Secretary of War, Feb. 1865 until surrender of Lee at Appomattox, April 1865. He was born and died in Lexington.