attorney general december december lawyer politician state virginia served state virginia kentucky elected appointed united_states attorney general second term president kentucky political family namesake kentucky father local politician mother member preston political family attended william intermittently attendance interrupted revolutionary war election youngest members body political activities acquainted prominent politicians married member political family despite making comfortable living combination legal agricultural endeavors letters relatives kentucky convinced western frontier established plantation near lexington kentucky appointed state attorney general soon arriving november resigned elected month legislator secured passage humane criminal code abolished death penalty offenses degree murder trip virginia gave kentucky resolutions denounced jefferson request assumed credit modified resolutions jefferson authorship discovered death opposed calling state constitutional convention elected delegate influence state government remained comparatively aristocratic maintaining slavery limiting power electorate called father resultant constitution emerged convention acknowledged leader state selected speaker elected functioned jefferson floor leader guiding administration bills chamber narrowly controlled party residents western frontier called nomination vice president jefferson appointed attorney general instead cabinet level official west little impact death tuberculosis december early life family grandfather immigrated ireland pennsylvania family moved virginia near city born december second children second wife mother daughter virginia preston political family children previous marriage half brothers uncle future congressman veteran french indian war served sheriff sheriff justice peace soon birth family moved constable justice peace serving local militia died leaving year old john acres km2 land slave half ownership slave according biographer attended school including washington records containing information lost father death younger helped support family selling whiskey learned surveying uncle employed recorder land office preston sought opportunities nephew attend private schools alongside sons schools prone intermittent operation responsibilities interfered attendance preston nominated deputy surveyor position accepted passing exam february later year joined cousin future kentucky senator william instructors influenced reverend revolutionary war forced william mary close buildings barracks british french american troops nation controlled college surrounding area records previously served ensign harrison notes reliable records military service indicate participation revolutionary war reliable sources mention virginia militia enlisted harrison speculates served short militia campaigns supporting army southwest virginia early political career sought office old serve elected represent virginia house delegates late legend says twice refused seat age constituents reelected time seated time official records support legislative colleagues included caroline prevented british soldiers meeting house convened richmond failed achieve british general advance city legislators arrived present conduct legislative business june morning rode city warning legislators light approaching legislators quickly fled horses days later completed session business stayed mother house sessions rejoining legislature richmond november session consisted adopting resolutions thanks individuals city safe defeating financial difficulties prevented return college seek reelection instead spent year earning money surveying reelected joining legislative colleagues joined fellow society members included future presidents house june returned william mary studying end year legislative session november december war urged economic political penalties imposed loyalists contrast later political views desired stronger central government provided argued national government survive tax citizens power articles financial problems caused leave william mary spring semester studies earlier year time campaign reelection asked brother joseph cousin campaign behalf initially prospects favorable beaten future virginia congressman defeat voters previously surveyor chose represent house appointed prestigious committees religion fellow committee members included inspired legislative service spent summer legislative sessions studying lawyer legislative session focused domestic issues like virginia establish tax benefit religion state associated writings indicate opposed tax instead secured approval religious liberty bill proposed years earlier legislature rose january admitted bar later year beginning practice marriage children june married daughter member political family received acre km2 plantation dubbed children born john robert john fell ill survived smallpox epidemic robert died later serve speaker kentucky secretary state father vice president younger attended princeton theological seminary served chaplain president georgia appointed superintendent public instruction governor known father kentucky public education system prominent presbyterian minister serving later president kentucky yale mississippi married son virginia senator died married later serve secretary war president profits barely growing family legal career provided money required long hours difficult work regularly represented clients opposite referred clients asked represent clients absence interested politics refused campaign people support believed changes needed agreed proposed constitution support equal representation states senate federal judiciary advice brother james friend seek election delegate virginia ratification convention relocation kentucky half brothers andrew robert moved kentucky brother william followed andrew robert trustees louisville letters described kentucky abundant land plentiful legal business contrast crowded bar scarce land virginia convinced kentucky offered opportunity year traveled west seek land construct estate inaccurate reports death reached virginia arrived safely kentucky april returned virginia june following year paid pounds sterling acres km2 north creek miles present day lexington kentucky land purchased sister father law lay adjacent land owned sister purchased adjacent acres km2 bringing total holdings kentucky acres km2 purchase instructed friend living kentucky find tenants lease improve land february democratic republican elected token opposition date election wrote people appearing willing elect objection serve winter congress despite left kentucky march resigned serving day congress convened march chose longer safer route kentucky joining group pennsylvania trip ohio rivers limestone kentucky family slaves arrived april established plantation time owned acres km2 kentucky domestic life kentucky arrived kentucky land occupied tenant farmers expired planted wheat acres km2 land sent slaves clear land fall planting eventually crops included corn wheat hay grass seed refused grow tobacco major cash crop found vulnerable cultivation bred horses planted orchard practiced law engaged land speculation particularly times owned interests iron salt works ventures successful plantation productive interested ways sell excess goods august charter member lobbied federal government secure use mississippi_river spain elected chairman chosen vice elected authored tract entitled citizens west mountains president written inhabitants united states west sic sic mountains pledged funding french minister proposed military operation spain recalled executed alarmed frontier settlers initiate war spain president george_washington immediate attempt obtain use mississippi society maintained natural right citizens commonwealth resistance eastern states particularly politicians caused reconsider support strong central government concerned overland transport goods virginia formed committee raise funds road connecting cumberland gap central kentucky disappointed quality route finished late concluding individual maintaining keeping tolls instead road interested education moving kentucky accumulated substantial library histories biographies law government texts classical literature frequently allowed aspiring lawyers students access library extensive west provided funding municipal library lexington lobbying college established lexington bore fruit opening elected seminary board trustees october supported hiring president february consolidating seminary conservatives board forced liberal resign enthusiasm waned attended board meetings frequently resigned late kentucky attorney general kentucky needed qualified governmental leaders december kentucky governor appointed attorney general weeks accepting offered post district attorney declined secretary state directed prevent french agents kentucky organizing expedition spanish louisiana advice responded lacked authority interfere lack funding prevented expedition response helped prompt passage neutrality act outlawed participation citizens expeditions november democratic republicans nominated succeed generally unpopular kentucky signing treaty temporarily secured use kentucky mississippi_river expedition indians prompted surge support federal government kentucky election ballot reflected candidate received votes votes incumbent edwards runoff ballot marshall elected vote harrison marshall general_assembly aided election notes marshall significance kentucky gubernatorial convened choose successor votes split candidates received votes baptist minister received received cousin senator received kentucky constitution specify majority required election held runoff vote supporters voted won election claimed authority intervene declared private citizen believed logan governor state senate authorized settle disputed elections refused intervene resigned attorney general november extension attorney general duties include representing state federal district court reluctance serve publicly declaring right office contributed decision month later declared candidacy fill vacancy delegation votes cast garnered candidates race pressed reform state criminal code based english system imposed death penalty different crimes inspired failed attempt reform virginia code asked study ways proportional crimes november drafting new code based principles criminals victims compensated injury public cost criminal punishment severity serve offenders january introduced proposed code general_assembly month later assembly reformed code death penalty crime degree murder kentucky resolutions august traveled virginia improve health visited family friends exact dates locations visited known point obtained draft resolutions written vice president denouncing recently enacted alien acts jefferson wished authorship secret accepted credit life revealed jefferson authorship grandson wrote jefferson confirmation taylor claims passage time failing memory cause details jefferson responded possibly met date jefferson recall discuss need resolutions denouncing decided jefferson pen resolutions introduce kentucky legislature return state letters indicate different series events letter dated october given copy resolutions sent introduce kentucky letter indicated original plan deliver draft legislator north_carolina introduction legislature nicholas felt recipient closely associated jefferson discovered resolutions author according nicholas wanted discuss draft jefferson nicholas advised meeting fearing jefferson subsequent letter jefferson expressed approval nicholas actions notes left virginia contacts jefferson election senate harrison considered unlikely jefferson mistaken meeting discuss matter important resolutions jefferson met separately nicholas discuss resolutions meeting kept secret nicholas uncertainty surrounding activities virginia extent influence jefferson original draft resolutions unknown november state commonwealth address encouraged general_assembly declare views chosen chairman person committee carry governor charge resolutions committee brought floor november known kentucky resolutions seven exactly jefferson written modified eliminating jefferson suggestion unpopular acts debate house floor endorsed congress repeal acts majority states declared opposition led opposition resolutions house vote led similarly unsuccessful opposition senate houses signed resolutions state primarily north sent negative responses resolutions kentucky adopt second set resolutions lack reply seen jefferson refused compose resolutions maintaining sufficiently talented individuals kentucky compose fearing discovered author set chosen speaker outset session took task drafting resolutions original principles endorsing resolutions unanimously passed house minority senate opposed especially endorsement chamber adopted resolutions written presumed authorship original resolutions subsequent defense caused popularity kentucky kentucky constitution kentucky citizens displeased parts state constitution disputed gubernatorial election added enthusiasm calling constitutional convention revise opposed fearing changes wealth power asked difference robbed horse highway man slave set people called convention experiment slaves principle pursued enable second experiment land titles held rights equally sound desire convention strong aristocratic position nearly cost seat legislature seeking election term seventh highest vote securing seats legislature votes despite efforts conservatives like late general_assembly called convention july delegates convention elected conservatives immediately began organizing candidates represent interests popular role securing adoption conservative candidates promoted elected men arrived late july convention delegates seven owned slaves held substantial property election convention judge worked nicholas seek election delegate draft resolutions introduce convention attempt steer proceedings conservative positions largest group delegates convention number advocated protection wealth status including voice voting legislature left legislators vulnerable intimidation legal slavery limiting power electorate smaller group led consisted opposed limits power legislature believed superior executive judicial branches group led future governor agreed notion legislative supremacy opposed limits branches government smallest group populist led conservative faction strengthened previous constitution slavery denying suffrage free blacks legislative based population addition lieutenant governor voice voting legislature issues advocated adopted unable preserve electoral college elected governor state senators direct election officers balanced provision county judges appointed governor confirmed senate attempts judicial decisions subject legislative approval defeated defended extant judicial system architect constitution provisions amendment changing document difficult entirely impossible leading role convention regarded father resultant constitution ratified emerged convention leader party reelected speaker house senator november elected vote eligible special congressional session called march summons session remained lexington post office march consequently missed entire session left washington late year left pending legal cases hands rising attorney later secretary state democratic republicans held narrow majority senate senators experienced devoted cause acted floor leader democratic republicans newly elected president proposed repeal supported judicial act increased number federal courts judges particularly controversial january presented data argue new courts judges unnecessary leader countered proposal unconstitutional established courts maintained january moved return bill committee consider amendments south_carolina democratic republican voted result tie empowered break tie jefferson vice president voted man committee consisted prevent bill return floor vermont senator traveled home family illness returned chamber democratic republicans regained majority introduced successful discharge petition attempt legislation debate argued judiciary strike repeal unconstitutional denied notion courts power act congress february senate repealed act vote house month later louisiana purchase advocated internal improvements formed coalition legislators south_carolina georgia tennessee kentucky support system roads connecting southern coastal states western frontier routes proposed proved impossible construct technology available time spanish kentucky right deposit new_orleans violation treaty frustrated angered frontier residents desired war spain jefferson believed diplomatic resolution possible urged restraint seeking divide democratic republicans favor west abandoned usual advocacy peace pennsylvania introduced measure million raising seize spain jefferson desire time offered substitute resolution february troops unlimited funds potential invasion new_orleans left use discretion president resolution adopted heated debate invasion necessary ambassadors learned spain ceded louisiana france treaty san france offered sell territory ministers france agreed purchase given authority jefferson pleased purchase feared constitutional authority effect august letter jefferson discussed constitutional proposed introduce simple constitutional amendment senate louisiana ceded france ignored proposed amendment immediately formed coalition western senators approve purchase purchase approved jefferson drafted system governing newly acquired territory fearing oppose system devised delivered draft asked introduce senate maintain ruse moved committee formed recommend plan governing working committee brought jefferson plan senate floor intact plan provided taxation louisiana residents giving representation congress democratic republicans opposed passed vote consideration vice presidency july citizens western states representation federal government intent breaking pattern new important federal offices advocating nomination vice president presidential election expected reelected democratic republicans grown vice president jefferson running mate service senate floor leader natural choice democratic republican congressional caucus convened february contrary previous conventions proceedings open formal afraid taking vice presidential nominations floor divisive chairman called open nomination new_york received majority votes garnered votes western delegates remaining votes scattered candidates historian concluded felt ticket composed jefferson little political sense choice reports hold asked colleagues vote caucus thirteen man committee formed promote election democratic republican ticket represented kentucky committee expressed dissent clinton nomination instead preferred candidate june edition philadelphia independent carried editorial signed true american denounced virginia new_york coalition attacked clinton old called vote vice president potential western states pledged carry true american proposal attempted warn advance editorial publication letter dated june reach july july published response kentucky denouncing proposal encouraging vote democratic republican slate nominated requested newspapers printed true american editorial print response edition carried response editor kentucky gazette penned editorial revealing close friend author true american article noting waited nearly week publish response claiming delay intended allow gauge public sentiment denouncing proposal odds constitutional convention dislike intensified refused use influence gain appointments relatives public printer united_states secretary respectively claims quickly endorsed anonymous editorial writers newspapers west swore oath composing true american article publicly stated brother charles shown draft true american editorial prior publication asked opinion advised publish temporarily obliged illness said confined home time editorial publication aware printed attended court days later immediately returned home composed light evidence maintained credibility reports kentucky gazette time election kentucky voted jefferson clinton senate matters focused securing vote present twelfth amendment states ratification agree changes effected amendment primary purpose direct presidential vote separately president vice president supported electoral college officials popular vote democratic republicans wanted amendment adopted election avoid jefferson hostile vice president announced support amendment late october members party absent able secure thirds majority needed send amendment states ratification recognizing fact pushed immediate vote putting position trying delay vote measure constituents supported debate began november democratic republicans returned south_carolina contended amendment allow large states pick president democratic republican georgia countered federal president vice president elected end time moved december determined hold vote night blocked took floor time days senators vote measure approved state quickly acted amendment september declared force upcoming election business session included creating special fund allow jefferson recover uss philadelphia captured coast northern africa repeal bankruptcy act supported passage measures feared passage act making permanent pay raises executive administrative personnel enacted hurt party upcoming elections especially house act passed significant backlash polls measure congress baltimore maryland protest legislators poor accommodations washington defeated vote considered issue moving capital worthy study supported successful federal judge served senate committee prepared rules governing supreme_court justice widely seen politically motivated democratic republicans joined minority voting obtained articles fell votes short required thirds majority democratic republicans voted convict article fifth senator sided chase attorney general attorney general resigned december jefferson treasury secretary sought replacement virginia choice declined appointment secretary desired office jefferson agreed appoint contingent finding suitable replacement smith secretary navy jefferson appointed massachusetts congressman replace smith appointments confirmed senate march refused appointment smith forced remain secretary navy jefferson offered position second choice resigned senate august accept appointment cabinet level official west appointment boosted jefferson popularity west called appointment mistake jefferson lacked qualifications jefferson able replace leadership senate noted departure chamber minority experienced revival influence leadership connecticut tracy stopping visit friends route washington arrived december nomination confirmed senate december influential jefferson cabinet meetings served lone voice west notable advisory opinion local government territory power tax federal property upheld supreme_court chief justice maryland sworn represent federal government supreme_court convened week late illness justices february spared practicing judge voted absent court entire week term court heard cases term cases inherited predecessor harrison wrote lasting importance cases involved international maritime law area familiar arose napoleonic wars complicated neutral american trade great_britain france term lost cases won justices sent lower court death legacy returned early fell ill june july visited kentucky hoping aid recovery doctors disagreed cause illness ranging fever stomach attempted return washington october horse prepared journey collapsed pain helped inside friends relatives hoped recovery came died december cause death eventually determined tuberculosis according family tradition distraught husband death went blind crying buried december later time death owned acres km2 land net worth estimated workforce nearly slaves largest state breeding horses profitable selling excess crops raised daughter husband inherited horse breeding operations eventually stable kentucky created portion named honor
John Breckinridge (U.S. Attorney General)