John Breathitt

John Breathitt (September 9, 1786–February 21, 1834) was a 19th century politician who served as the Governor of Kentucky from 1832–1834, dying in office.

Early life
Breathitt was born in Henry County, Virginia in 1786. He was the eldest child of William Breathitt, who moved his family to Logan County, Kentucky in 1800.

In early adulthood, Breathitt was surveyor in Illinois, before returning to Kentucky to teach in a country school. He used his income to acquire lands and study law. When his first wife died, he married Susan M. Harris of Chesterfield County, Virginia.

Political career
Breathitt was admitted to the bar in February 1810. He joined the Democratic-Republican Party and supported Andrew Jackson. He was elected to the Kentucky state House of Representatives in 1811 and served three terms. He was Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky from 1828 until 1832, when he was elected the state's eleventh governor as a Jacksonian Democrat.

Death
Governor John Breathitt died of tuberculosis in the governor's mansion in Frankfort in Franklin County in 1834. He was originally buried in the Breathitt family cemetery, but was later reinterred at Maple Grove Cemetery in Russellville. He was the second sitting governor of Kentucky to die in office.

Breathitt County, Kentucky is named for him.

His great-grandson, John S. Marmaduke, was a Civil War cavalry general and later governor of Missouri, ironically also dying in office.