Henry Skillman Breckinridge | |
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United States Assistant Secretary of War | |
In office 1913–1916 |
|
President | Woodrow Wilson |
Preceded by | Robert Shaw Oliver |
Succeeded by | William Moulton Ingraham |
Personal details | |
Born | May 25, 1886 Chicago, Illinois |
Died | May 2, 1960 (aged 73) New York City, New York |
Resting place | Lexington Cemetery |
Political party | Democratic |
Alma mater | Princeton University, Harvard Law School |
Medal record | ||
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Men's fencing | ||
Representing United States | ||
Olympic Games | ||
1920 Antwerp | Foil, team |
Henry Skillman Breckinridge (May 25, 1886 – May 2, 1960) was an American lawyer and politician, best known as Charles Lindbergh's attorney during the Lindbergh kidnapping trial and the only serious opponent of President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the 1936 Democratic primaries. He was the United States Assistant Secretary of War from 1913 to 1916.
Breckinridge was born in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Louise Ludlow (Dudley) and Joseph Cabell Breckinridge, Sr., a member of the prominent Breckinridge family. He graduated from Princeton University and Harvard Law School. In 1913 at the age of 27, he was appointed United States Assistant Secretary of War by President Woodrow Wilson, a fellow Democrat. At the same time, the Assistant Secretary of the Navy was Roosevelt himself. Breckinridge resigned, along with Secretary Lindley M. Garrison, in 1916.
He was also a member of the fencing teams at the 1920 and 1928 Summer Olympics, and was captain of the latter. At the 1920 Games, he won a bronze medal in the team foil event. During World War I, he served as commander of a battalion.