 John Breathitt was born near New London , Henry County , Virginia on September 9 , 1786 . He was the eldest of five sons and four daughters born to William and Elizabeth ( Whitsett ) Breathitt . William Breathitt immigrated to Maryland from Scotland , then settled in Virginia . John Breathitt 's brother , George , became a private secretary to President Andrew Jackson . Another brother , James , became Commonwealth 's Attorney for the state of Kentucky . 
