James Carson Breckinridge
Encyclopedia
James Carson Breckinridge (September 13, 1877—March 2, 1942) was a lieutenant general of the United States Marine Corps
. He was the son of Clifton Rhodes Breckinridge and a member of the prominent Breckinridge family
.
in 1899 to fight in the Spanish–American War, seeing service at Cavite
in the Philippines
. He was promoted to captain on July 23, 1901, serving as the commander of Marine detachments at sea through that decade. He served ashore in Panama
and Nicaragua from late 1909 to early 1911, months later, temporary expeditionary duty in Cuba
. In April 1914, he participated in the United States occupation of Veracruz while in command of the Marine attachment from the . He received a commendation for his conduct in battle.
Breckinridge served as naval attaché
at many diplomatic posts from April 1916 to September 1918, to include Petrograd
, Russia
, Christiania
, Norway
, Copenhagen
, Denmark
, and Stockholm
, Sweden
. His service would earn him the Navy Cross
, for "distinguished service in the line of his profession as Naval Attache to the American Legations at Christiana and Stockholm, and for a time also at Copenhagen. At all of these posts of duty, the service of information established and conducted was of great value to the United States and allied Powers." He was promoted to major
on June 12, 1916, to lieutenant colonel
two months later, and to colonel
on July 1, 1918.
From February 1919 to October 1920, he commanded the 15th Regiment, 2nd Brigade of Marines, in the occupation of the Dominican Republic
, and from October 4, 1920 to May 5, 1921, was in command of the Guardia National Dominicana. In 1922, he returned to the United States to attend the Army War College, then commanded Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C.
from August 1923 to September 1925.
From 1925 to 1927, Breckinridge was attached to the USS Seattle
as Fleet Marine Officer
and aide
on the Staff of the Commander in Chief, United States Fleet
. He next served as chief of staff
for, and later commanded the 1st Marine Regiment at Marine Barracks, Quantico
, Virginia
from December 1, 1927 to December 25, 1929. In July 1928, he was placed in command of the Marine Corps Schools
at Quantico.
From January 28, 1930 until March 13, 1932, Breckinridge commanded the Marine Detachment at the American Legation
, Peiping
, China
, and was promoted to brigadier general
on October 31, 1931. Following this, he returned to Quantico to command Marine Corps Schools again until January 6, 1935, having been promoted to major general
on February 1, 1935. He was ordered to San Francisco, California
, to assume command of the Department of the Pacific
until June 24, 1937, when he again returned to Quantico as commander until September 1939. He then commanded Marine Barracks, Parris Island
, South Carolina
until his retirement effective October 1, 1941, having attained the statutory retiring age of 64 years. He received a promotion to lieutenant general
at that date in recognition of his decorated service as a combat veteran.
. After his death, according to his wishes, he was buried in the Breckinridge family plot at Lexington Cemetery in Lexington, Kentucky
.
The and the James Carson Breckinridge Professional Library at the Marine Corps University
is named for him, as a tribute for his efforts to prepare the next generation of Marines for World War II
.
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
. He was the son of Clifton Rhodes Breckinridge and a member of the prominent Breckinridge family
Breckinridge family
The Breckinridge family is a family of politicians and public figures from the United States. The family has included six members of the United States House of Representatives, two United States Senators, a cabinet member, two Ambassadors, a Vice President of United States and an unsuccessful...
.
Military career
Breckinridge was appointed as a second lieutenantSecond Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
in 1899 to fight in the Spanish–American War, seeing service at Cavite
Cavite
Cavite is a province of the Philippines located on the southern shores of Manila Bay in the CALABARZON region in Luzon, just 30 kilometers south of Manila. Cavite is surrounded by Laguna to the east, Metro Manila to the northeast, and Batangas to the south...
in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. He was promoted to captain on July 23, 1901, serving as the commander of Marine detachments at sea through that decade. He served ashore in Panama
Panama Canal Zone
The Panama Canal Zone was a unorganized U.S. territory located within the Republic of Panama, consisting of the Panama Canal and an area generally extending 5 miles on each side of the centerline, but excluding Panama City and Colón, which otherwise would have been partly within the limits of...
and Nicaragua from late 1909 to early 1911, months later, temporary expeditionary duty in Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
. In April 1914, he participated in the United States occupation of Veracruz while in command of the Marine attachment from the . He received a commendation for his conduct in battle.
Breckinridge served as naval attaché
Military attaché
A military attaché is a military expert who is attached to a diplomatic mission . This post is normally filled by a high-ranking military officer who retains the commission while serving in an embassy...
at many diplomatic posts from April 1916 to September 1918, to include Petrograd
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, Christiania
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, and Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. His service would earn him the Navy Cross
Navy Cross
The Navy Cross is the highest decoration that may be bestowed by the Department of the Navy and the second highest decoration given for valor. It is normally only awarded to members of the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps and United States Coast Guard, but can be awarded to all...
, for "distinguished service in the line of his profession as Naval Attache to the American Legations at Christiana and Stockholm, and for a time also at Copenhagen. At all of these posts of duty, the service of information established and conducted was of great value to the United States and allied Powers." He was promoted to major
Major (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, major is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel...
on June 12, 1916, to lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
two months later, and to colonel
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
on July 1, 1918.
From February 1919 to October 1920, he commanded the 15th Regiment, 2nd Brigade of Marines, in the occupation of the Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
, and from October 4, 1920 to May 5, 1921, was in command of the Guardia National Dominicana. In 1922, he returned to the United States to attend the Army War College, then commanded Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C.
Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C.
Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C. is located at 8th and I Streets, Southeast in Washington, D.C. Established in 1801, it is a National Historic Landmark, the oldest post in the United States Marine Corps, the official residence of the Commandant of the Marine Corps since 1806, and main ceremonial...
from August 1923 to September 1925.
From 1925 to 1927, Breckinridge was attached to the USS Seattle
USS Washington (ACR-11)
The seventh USS Washington , also referred to as "Armored Cruiser No. 11", and later renamed Seattle and renumbered CA-11 and IX-39, was a United States Navy Tennessee-class armored cruiser...
as Fleet Marine Officer
Fleet Marine Force
The United States Fleet Marine Forces are combined general and special purpose forces within the United States Department of the Navy that are designed in engaging offensive amphibious or expeditionary warfare and defensive maritime employment...
and aide
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
on the Staff of the Commander in Chief, United States Fleet
United States Fleet
The United States Fleet was an organization in the United States Navy from 1922 until after World War II. The abbreviation CINCUS, pronounced "sink us", was used for Commander-in-Chief, United States Fleet. This title was disposed of and officially replaced by COMINCH in December 1941 . This...
. He next served as chief of staff
Chief of Staff
The title, chief of staff, identifies the leader of a complex organization, institution, or body of persons and it also may identify a Principal Staff Officer , who is the coordinator of the supporting staff or a primary aide to an important individual, such as a president.In general, a chief of...
for, and later commanded the 1st Marine Regiment at Marine Barracks, Quantico
Marine Corps Base Quantico
Marine Corps Base Quantico, sometimes abbreviated MCB Quantico, is a major United States Marine Corps training base located near Triangle, Virginia, covering nearly in southern Prince William County, northern Stafford County, and southeastern Fauquier County...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
from December 1, 1927 to December 25, 1929. In July 1928, he was placed in command of the Marine Corps Schools
United States Marine Corps Training and Education Command
The Marine Corps Training and Education Command is the primary training command of the United States Marine CorpsIt develops, coordinate, resource, execute, and evaluate training and education concepts, policies, plans, and programs for Marines to meet the challenges of operational...
at Quantico.
From January 28, 1930 until March 13, 1932, Breckinridge commanded the Marine Detachment at the American Legation
Legation
A legation was the term used in diplomacy to denote a diplomatic representative office lower than an embassy. Where an embassy was headed by an Ambassador, a legation was headed by a Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary....
, Peiping
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, and was promoted to brigadier general
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
on October 31, 1931. Following this, he returned to Quantico to command Marine Corps Schools again until January 6, 1935, having been promoted to major general
Major general (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, and United States Air Force, major general is a two-star general-officer rank, with the pay grade of O-8. Major general ranks above brigadier general and below lieutenant general...
on February 1, 1935. He was ordered to San Francisco, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, to assume command of the Department of the Pacific
Department of the Pacific
The Department of the Pacific was a major command of the United States Army during the 19th century.-Formation:The Department of the Pacific was first organized on October 31, 1853, at San Francisco, California, taking over from the previous Pacific Division. The department reported directly to...
until June 24, 1937, when he again returned to Quantico as commander until September 1939. He then commanded Marine Barracks, Parris Island
Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island
Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island is an military installation located within Port Royal, South Carolina, approximately south of Beaufort, the community that is typically associated with the installation. MCRD Parris Island is used for the training of enlisted Marines...
, South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
until his retirement effective October 1, 1941, having attained the statutory retiring age of 64 years. He received a promotion to lieutenant general
Lieutenant General (United States)
In the United States Army, the United States Air Force and the United States Marine Corps, lieutenant general is a three-star general officer rank, with the pay grade of O-9. Lieutenant general ranks above major general and below general...
at that date in recognition of his decorated service as a combat veteran.
Retirement and death
He retired on October 1, 1941, and returned to his home in the Shenandoah ValleyShenandoah Valley
The Shenandoah Valley is both a geographic valley and cultural region of western Virginia and West Virginia in the United States. The valley is bounded to the east by the Blue Ridge Mountains, to the west by the eastern front of the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians , to the north by the Potomac River...
. After his death, according to his wishes, he was buried in the Breckinridge family plot at Lexington Cemetery in Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
.
Awards and honors
| Navy Cross Navy Cross The Navy Cross is the highest decoration that may be bestowed by the Department of the Navy and the second highest decoration given for valor. It is normally only awarded to members of the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps and United States Coast Guard, but can be awarded to all... |
Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal The Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal is a decoration of the United States Marine Corps which was first created on 8 May 1919. Originally known as the Marine Corps Expeditionary Ribbon, a full-sized medal was authorized in July 1921 by Presidential Order of Warren G. Harding... |
Spanish Campaign Medal Spanish Campaign Medal The Spanish Campaign Medal was a military award of the United States Armed Forces which recognized those members of the U.S. military who had served in the Spanish-American War. Although a single decoration, there were two versions of the Spanish Campaign Medal, one for members of the United... |
Philippine Campaign Medal Philippine Campaign Medal The Philippine Campaign Medal is a military decoration of the United States Armed Forces which was created to denote service of U.S. military members in the Philippine-American War between the years of 1899 and 1913. Although a single service medal, the Philippine Campaign Medal was issued under... |
| Army of Cuban Pacification Medal Army of Cuban Pacification Medal The Army of Cuban Pacification Medal is a military award of the United States Army which was created by orders of the United States War Department on May 11, 1909... |
Mexican Service Medal Mexican Service Medal The Mexican Service Medal is an award of the United States military which was established by General Orders of the United States War Department on December 12, 1917... |
World War I Victory Medal | Dominican Military Medal of Merit |
The and the James Carson Breckinridge Professional Library at the Marine Corps University
Marine Corps University
The Marine Corps University reports to the United States Marine Corps Training And Education Command. It was established on August 1, 1989 by General Alfred M...
is named for him, as a tribute for his efforts to prepare the next generation of Marines for World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.