Salacious Society Scandal of the Gilded Age: The Breckinridge-Pollard Affair

In 1893 a sensational trial in the District of Columbia pitted a young woman against a powerful US Congressman. The salacious allegations captivated the nation, and went to the very heart of the power structure of the Gilded age. The Breckinridge-Pollard affair is nearly forgotten today, but at the time it was, as a contemporary account of the trial explained, “The Most Noted Breach of Promise suit in the history of court records.”

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[michaelshort]

My Dad's grandmother went through this in 1900. She had a child and took the father to Federal court for breach of promise. It was a bench trial (no jury) and the case was called three times, and when the defendant never showed, the judge ruled in her favor. The child involved was my grandmother, who died in 1938 so I never knew her. My great-grandmother however, actually lived with us for a time. I never discovered all this until long after she was gone, and read about it in the copies of the local paper at the time. The name of the defendant was never mentioned, only my great-grandmother's name. I had to go to the courthouse and dig out the account of the trial from 1900! It made for fascinating reading, and made history come alive, much as The History Guy does!

[dennisud]

I was a student in Kentucky back in the 70s and they never said a thing about this scandal! Breckenridge was a huge politician there, and I can see why they would have buried it deep in history! Glad you covered this one!

[rob-vy]

Love how someone described her as "an Adventuress" as an insult, when modern ears would hear it as - kind of cool.
Then, she moves to Europe and becomes "and Adventuress" by the modern definition: A women who goes on adventures.

[lesterpossum]

Seven years after the scandal, Theodore Dreiser wrote Sister Carrie; about a similar young woman “lead down the primrose path.” But Carrie’s self-worth prevails while her married lover’s life falls apart. Though scorned by moralists at the time, Carrie, like Madeleine Pollard, showed how modern public opinion could shift.

[hbrws]

Fascinating. I had never heard this story.

[johnwriter]

As a retired US Coast Guard veteran, I appreciate your display of the USCG Officers hat !!

[BrilliantDesignOnline]

I could tell from the outset that Breckinridge was a POS. Also, $15, 000 to Pollard in that day was an absolute fortune: Good for her!(even though she never got it, but via karma, she lived her best life, while the other reaped his reward.) But, I must confess, hearing the lurid and salacious testimony has forever tainted my tender sensibilities.
THG: You ROCK!

[xjAlbert]

Seems applicable to characters seeking office today. So glad Miss Pollard found happiness across the Atlantic after years of abuse in the United States.

[bluemx]

A Breach of promise suit seems like a really silly thing. But, then the way "History Guy' explains it it seems like it was one of the few ways women could seek justice at the time.
Plus, the children being discarded and sent to asylums as if they were furniture is downright scary.

[kevinobrien]

fascinating scandal of yesteryear, rescued from its current state of obscurity -- a specialty of The History Guy -- Thanks, Lance!

[orbyfan]

"He Denies Everything"--to quote a major figure in a political sex scandal from 70 years later, "Well, he would say that now, wouldn't he?"

[nancywhitehead]

Times change, but political cover ups never do.

[jecny]

Very interesting on a subject I knew little about. It prompted me to look up the legal history of "breach of promise" as I wanted to know when the law died out. To my astonishment, it has not completely died. Breach of promise remains an actionable civil offense in a number of American states. While such suits are rare, they do still occur.

[feiorn]

Good on her for living what sounds like her best life after the trial!

[corvid...]

Another great episode on a matter I would never have known about. I am always grateful for the chance to remember some piece of history that deserves to be remembered

[goodun]

Considering Breckinridge's predilection for getting Pollard out of her corset, perhaps his punishment should have been putting him into one for a day or two!

[lauralafauve]

My favorite piece so far.
A change in society brought about by a wronged woman and her lawyers.

[jchapman]

The opening pic of Kentucky Congressman William P. Breckinridge reminds me of the actor Monty Wooley (1888-1963).

[thomaslance]

I'm really surprised they ruled in her favor. The entire time I was expecting, despite the evidence, that the men would find for Breckenridge.

[mikey-wljt]

Love how this case is what destroyed his political career and not, yanno, taking up arms against the union