Breckinridge, Robert Jefferson

BRECKENRIDGE, ROBERT JEFFERSON: Presbyterian minister, brother of John Breckinridge; b. at Cabell's Dale, near Lexington, Ky., Mar. 8, 1800; d. at Danville, Ky., Dec. 27, 1871. He was graduated at Union College, 1819; practised law in Kentucky, 1823–31, and was a member of the State legislature, 1825–29; studied theology at Princeton, 1831–32, was ordained Nov. 26, 1832, and was pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church, Baltimore, 1832–45; president of Jefferson College, Pennsylvania, 1845–47; pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, Lexington, Ky., and at the same time State superintendent of public instruction, 1847–53; professor of theology at Danville Seminary, 1853–89. He was a stanch Old School Presbyterian and the author of the "Act and Testimony" (1834), complaining of the prevalence of doctrinal errors, the relaxation of discipline, and the violation of church order, which played an important part in the disruption of the Presbyterian Church; he opposed the reunion in 1869. He was a bitter opponent of the Roman Catholic Church. During the Civil War he defended the Union cause and was president of the national Republican convention at Baltimore in 1864 which renominated Abraham Lincoln for the Presidency. During his residence in Baltimore he edited The Literary and Religions Magazine (1835–43), and The Danville Review at Danville (1861–65); his principal literary work is two volumes, The Knowledge of God, objectively and subjectively considered (New York, 1857–59).