Joseph Cabell Breckinridge (6 March 1872 – 11 February 1898) was an officer in the United States Navy

United States Navy

The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...

 in the Spanish-American War

Spanish-American War

The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...

. He was the son of Joseph Cabell Breckinridge, Sr.

Joseph Cabell Breckinridge, Sr.

Joseph Cabell Breckinridge, Sr. was a Major General, but fought for the Union in the American Civil War.Breckinridge was a member of the prominent Breckinridge family at the family's Cabell's Dale estate near Lexington, Kentucky...

, a Major General in the United States Army, 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...

.

Biography

Breckinridge was born in Fort Monroe, Virginia and graduated from the Naval Academy

United States Naval Academy

The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...

 in 1895. He served in the battleship

Battleship

A battleship is a large armored warship with a main battery consisting of heavy caliber guns. Battleships were larger, better armed and armored than cruisers and destroyers. As the largest armed ships in a fleet, battleships were used to attain command of the sea and represented the apex of a...

 Texas

USS Texas (1892)

USS Texas was a second-class pre-dreadnought battleship built by the United States in the early 1890s. She was the first American battleship and the first ship named in honor of the state of Texas to be built by the United States...

, where on several occasions he displayed remarkable coolness and ability in times of peril.

While serving in Cushing

USS Cushing (TB-1)

USS Cushing was a torpedo boat in the United States Navy during the Spanish-American War. She was named for William B. Cushing....

, Ensign Breckinridge was washed overboard and drowned 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...

n waters. Two sailors who attempted to rescue him, Ship's Cook First Class Daniel Atkins

Daniel Atkins

Daniel Atkins was a United States Navy sailor and a recipient of America's highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor.-Biography:...

 and Gunner's Mate Third Class John Everetts, were awarded the Medal of Honor

Medal of Honor

The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...

for their actions during the incident.