He was a member of the prominent Breathitt family, and was seen as a rising star of the Kentucky Democratic Party prior to his early passing due to illness in 1934.

[3] Breathitt graduated from Centre in 1911,[4] was admitted to the Kentucky Bar Association the next year before entering into a law partnership with his father.

During the 1928 convention, he served as chairman of the Kentucky delegation and was an opponent of those who levied criticism against presidential nominee Al Smith on the basis of his Catholicism.

[9] Nelson attempted to challenge these results but was unsuccessful, and Breathitt was sworn in to office on December 13 alongside Governor Flem D.

[10][11] Sampson was the sole republican elected to a constitutional office that year and would face much opposition from both the Kentucky General Assembly and other state leaders throughout his tenure.