James Breckinridge

James Breckinridge (March 7, 1763 – May 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 American Revolutionary War and served as a brigadier-general during the War of 1812.

Family and early life
Breckinridge was born near Fincastle, Botetourt County, Virginia. His brother was John Breckinridge and he was the great-great-great-uncle of John Bayne Breckinridge. He studied under private tutors and during the Revolutionary War, he served in Colonel Preston's rifle regiment under General Nathanael Greene. He attended Washington College (now Washington and Lee University) and was graduated from the College of William and Mary in 1785. He studied law and was admitted to the bar and practiced in Fincastle.

He built Breckinridge Mill in 1822, to replace an earlier mill he built in 1804. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980, with a boundary increase in 2002.

Political career
Breckinridge served as a delegate to the Virginia House of Delegates for the terms 1789–1802, 1806–1808, 1819–1821 and 1823–1824. He took a special interest in the construction of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. He was then elected as a Federalist to the Eleventh Congress and to the three succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1809 – March 3, 1817). He was an associate of Thomas Jefferson in the establishment of the University of Virginia and served as brigadier general in the War of 1812.

Electoral History
1809

Breckinridge was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives with 56.72% of the vote, defeating Democrat-Republican Alexander Wilson.

1811

Breckinridge was re-elected with 58.4% of the vote, defeating Democrat-Republican Thomas L. Preston.

1813

Breckinridge was re-elected unopposed.

1815

Breckinridge was re-elected unopposed.

Death and afterward
Breckinridge died at his country home, "Grove Hill," Botetourt County, Virginia, May 13, 1833 and was buried in the family burial plot on his estate near Fincastle.