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Clifton Breckinridge
CRBreckinridge.jpg
United States Minister to Russia
In office
November 1, 1894 – December 10, 1897
President Grover Cleveland
William McKinley
Preceded by Andrew White
Succeeded by Ethan Hitchcock
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Arkansas
In office
November 4, 1890 – August 14, 1894
Preceded by John Clayton (elect)
Succeeded by John Little
Constituency 2nd district
In office
March 4, 1885 – September 5, 1890
Unseated
Preceded by James Kimbrough Jones
Succeeded by John Clayton (elect)
Constituency 2nd district
In office
March 4, 1883 – March 3, 1885
Preceded by Constituency reestablished
Succeeded by Constituency abolished
Constituency at-large district
Personal details
Born
Clifton Rodes Breckinridge

(1846-11-22)November 22, 1846
Lexington, Kentucky, U.S.
Died December 3, 1932(1932-12-03) (aged 86)
Wendover, Kentucky, U.S.
Resting place Lexington Cemetery
Political party Democratic
Spouse
Katherine Carson
(m. 1876; died 1921)
Children James
Mary
Relatives John C. Breckinridge (father)
Mary Burch (mother)
Breckinridge family
Education Washington and Lee University
Military service
Allegiance  Confederate States
Branch/service  Confederate States Army
 Confederate States Navy
Rank Midshipman
Battles/wars American Civil War

Clifton Rodes Breckinridge (November 22, 1846 – December 3, 1932) was an important American figure. He was a Democrat who served as a city leader, a member of Congress, and a diplomat. He also fought in the Confederate Army and Navy during the American Civil War. Clifton was part of the well-known Breckinridge family. His father was John C. Breckinridge, who was a Vice President of the United States and a Confederate General.

Early Life and Military Service

Clifton Rodes Breckinridge was born near Lexington, Kentucky. His parents were John Cabell and Mary Cyrene Burch Breckinridge. As a child, he went to local schools in his hometown.

When the American Civil War began, he joined the Confederate States Army with his father. Later, he became a midshipman in the Confederate States Navy. After the war ended, he attended Washington College in Lexington, Virginia. The college president was Confederate General Robert E. Lee. General Lee encouraged Clifton to pursue a career in public service.

After college, Clifton joined his older brother. They worked on a cotton plantation near Pine Bluff, Arkansas. He spent thirteen years growing cotton and working in the commission business. In 1876, Clifton married Katherine Carson. She came from a wealthy family in Mississippi. They had four children together.

Political Career

Clifton Breckinridge began his political journey in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. He was elected as an alderman, which is a member of the city council. Later, in 1882, he was elected as a Democrat to the United States House of Representatives. He took his seat in 1883.

John G. Carlisle, a friend of the Breckinridge family, became the new Speaker of the House. He made sure Clifton got a spot on the important United States House Committee on Ways and Means. Clifton was reelected to Congress in 1884 and 1886.

Challenging Election Dispute

Clifton Breckinridge faced a big challenge after the 1888 election. There were problems with the voting in Arkansas's 2nd congressional district. It was found that in one area, a ballot box with many votes for his opponent, John M. Clayton, was taken. John Clayton was the brother of a former Arkansas Governor.

Because of this, Clayton challenged the election results. He went to Plumerville, Arkansas to investigate. Sadly, on January 29, 1889, Clayton was killed by an unknown attacker. After a special investigation by Congress, Clayton was declared the winner. This meant Clifton Breckinridge lost his seat. However, because Clayton had died, the seat became empty. Clifton was not found responsible for any wrongdoing in the election or Clayton's death. He was later elected again in 1890 to fill the vacant seat.

Work in Congress

Clifton Breckinridge was reelected to the House of Representatives in 1890 and 1892. He helped create important laws, including one to cancel the Sherman Silver Purchase Act. He also supported the Wilson–Gorman Tariff Act. After the election dispute, he earned back trust and was highly respected. A magazine called Harper's Weekly described him as "one of the very first men in the House of Representatives."

During a financial crisis in 1893-1894, called the Panic of 1893, Clifton strongly supported President Grover Cleveland. President Cleveland believed in the gold standard. However, many farmers in Arkansas wanted "free silver," which meant using silver to back money. Because of this, they did not support Clifton for reelection. He lost the Democratic primary election to John S. Little, who then won the main election.

Diplomatic Service

Minister to Russia

CRBreckinridge-Russia
U.S. Minister Clifton R. Breckinridge at the coronation of Nicholas II of Russia in 1896 wearing court knee breeches in which he was uncomfortable.

In 1894, Clifton Breckinridge left the House of Representatives early. President Cleveland chose him to be the Minister to Russia. He served in this role until 1897. As Minister, he was good at sending reports about Russia's goals back to Washington, D.C.

He warned that Russia's expansion into China could end friendly relations between Russia and China. However, the United States at that time preferred to stay out of other countries' affairs (this was called isolationism). So, his warnings did not change U.S. policy. Because of this, Clifton mostly handled everyday issues like trade and immigration.

He found the social events in Saint Petersburg challenging. The cost of entertaining guests in the grand Russian capital was too high for him. This was especially true during the lavish celebrations for the coronation of Tsar Nicholas II and Empress Alexandra Fyodorovna in 1896. Clifton even had to wear special ceremonial knee breeches, which made him uncomfortable. He worried that his old friends in Arkansas would not understand his fancy outfit.

Dawes Commission Work

After William McKinley became President in 1897, he replaced Clifton Breckinridge with a Republican diplomat. Clifton then returned to Pine Bluff, Arkansas. However, in 1900, President McKinley appointed him to the Dawes Commission. This commission worked with the Five Civilized Tribes in Indian Territory.

Clifton and other commissioners were in charge of dividing tribal land into individual plots for the Cherokee people. In 1903, some people claimed that Clifton and other commissioners were unfairly taking Native American lands. The United States Department of Justice investigated and found Clifton innocent of any illegal actions. He left the commission in 1905.

Later Life and Legacy

After leaving the Dawes Commission, Clifton Breckinridge started the Arkansas Valley Trust Company in Fort Smith, Arkansas. He was the president of this company until 1914. From 1917 to 1918, he was a delegate to the Arkansas Constitutional Convention. He convinced other delegates to approve a plan for a single-chamber legislature, but this idea was later changed.

His wife passed away in 1921. Clifton lived in Fort Smith until 1925. Then, he moved to Hyden, Kentucky, to live with his daughter, Mary Breckinridge. Mary was the founder of the Frontier Nursing Service, which provided healthcare in rural areas. At first, they lived with the nurses in the first Midwife Clinic. Later, a large log cabin was built in Wendover. Clifton helped by taking care of the horses for the first frontier nurses.

Clifton Rodes Breckinridge died in Wendover on December 3, 1932, at the age of eighty-six. He was buried at Lexington Cemetery with many members of his family, including his wife and children. His house in Fort Smith, known as the C.R. Breckinridge House, is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a historic site.

See also

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