Edie, Here are a few quotes: Katie John C. Breckinridge (1821 - 1875) Vice President under James Buchanan March 4, 1857 until March 3, 1861 <http://bioguide.congress.gov/bioguide/photo/b/b000789.jpg> Library of Congress BRECKINRIDGE, John Cabell, (grandson of John Breckinridge, father of Clifton Rodes Breckinridge, and cousin of Henry Donnel Foster), a Representative and a Senator from Kentucky and a Vice President of the United States; born at ?Cabell?s Dale,? near Lexington, Ky., January 16, 1821; attended Pisgah Academy, Woodford County, Ky.; was graduated from Centre College, Danville, Ky., in 1839; later attended the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University); studied law in the Transylvania Institute, Lexington, Ky.; was admitted to the bar in 1840; moved to Burlington, Iowa, but soon returned and began practice in Lexington, Ky.; major of the Third Kentucky Volunteers during the Mexican War in 1847 and 1848; member, State house of representatives 1849; elected as a Democrat to the Thirty-second and Thirty-third Congresses (March 4, 1851-March 3, 1855); was not a candidate for renomination in 1854; was tendered the mission to Spain by President Franklin Pierce, but declined; elected Vice President of the United States in 1856 on the Democratic ticket with James Buchanan as President; unsuccessful candidate for President in 1860; elected to the United States Senate and served from March 4, 1861, until expelled by resolution of December 4, 1861, for support of the rebellion; entered the Confederate Army during the Civil War as brigadier general and soon became a major general; Secretary of War in the Cabinet of the Confederate States from January until April 1865; resided in Europe until 1868; returned to Lexington, Ky., and resumed the practice of law; vice president of the Elizabethtown, Lexington Big Sandy Railroad Co.; died in Lexington, Ky., May 17, 1875; interment in Lexington Cemetery. - - Biographical Data courtesy of the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. *************** The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans: Volume I A Breckinridge, Joseph Cabell page 397 BRECKINRIDGE, John Cabell, vice-president of the United States, was born at Cabell's Dale, Ky., Jan. 16, 1821; son of John Cabell and Mary C. (Smith) Breckinridge, grandson of John Breck-inridge, U.S. district attorney, and a nephew of John and Robert J. Breckinridge , distinguished Presbyterian divines. He was graduated at Centre college in 1838, and in law at Transylvania university in 1840. He began the practice of his profession at Frankfort, Ky., then removed to Burlington, Iowa. He returned to his native place in 1843 and opened an office at Georgetown, removing in 1845 to Lexington, where he speedily acquired a lucrative practice. On the breaking out of the war with Mexico he served as major of a regiment of Kentucky volunteers, and also as attorney for General Pillow in his numerous litigations with his fellow officers. On returning to his home he was elected to the lower house of the Kentucky legislature, and in 1851 and '53 [p.397] to the United States house of representatives, where he served in the 32d and 33d congresses. In 1856 he was nominated and elected vice-president of the United States. Before the expiration of his term as vice-president he was elected to the United States senate by the legislature of Kentucky, and nominated by the southern wing of the Democratic convention, which convened at Charleston, S.C., in 1860, as their candidate for the presidency of the United States. In the election that followed he received seventy-two electoral votes, against one hundred and eighty cast for Mr. Lincoln, thirty-nine for John Bell and twelve for Stephen A. Douglas. He took his seat in the United States senate on March 4, 1861, where he announced the election of Abraham Lincoln to the presidency before both houses of Congress, spurning a proposition made by southern members that he should join in a plot to prevent the counting of the electoral votes, defended the course of the people of the southern states in protecting their property, and then left the senate to join the Confederate army. In September, 1861, he went to Richmond, Va., where he was appointed brigadier-general, and on November 16 assumed command of the 1st Kentucky brigade. On March 2, 1862, he was placed in command of a division of Gen. A. S. Johnston's army, and led it in the battle of Shiloh, for which he was advanced to the rank of major-general. He commanded the Confederate troops at the battle of Baton Ronge, Aug. 5, 1862. He participated in the engagements at Stone River, Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain and Mission Ridge. In February, 1864, he was sent to Virginia, and on May 15 fought against General Sigel at New Market. He was with General Early during his campaign in Maryland, and at Monocacy, Cold Harbor, and Bull Gap. In March, 1865, President Davis appointed him secretary of war, and after the surrender he assisted the president in his flight and accompanied by a few friends escaped in an open boat to Cuba, whence he sailed for England. He remained in Europe till 1868, when he returned to the United States and resumed the practice of the law at Lexington, Ky., in which he continued until his death on May 17, 1875. _________________________________________________________________ Add photos to your e-mail with MSN 8. Get 2 months FREE*. http://join.msn.com/?page=features/featuredemail