" Across more than six generations-beginning before the Revolutionary
War-the Breckinridge family has produced a series of notable leaders.
These often controversial men and women included a presidential
candidate, a U.S. vice president, cabinet members, generals, women's
rights advocates, congressmen, editors, reformers, authors, and church
leaders. Along with success, the Breckinridges, like other Americans,
faced hardship and war, contended with race, lived through difficult
family situations