Hochester v. De La Tour, 2 Ellis & Bl. 678 (1853) p744.

performance and breach: repudiation

P was engaged in April 1852 by D to accompany him on a tour of Europe to commence on June 1st, 1852. On the 11th of May 1852 defendant wrote to plaintiff that he had changed his mind and declined his services. P then obtained an engagement with Ashburton to commence on July 4th.

Can a breach of a contract occur before the day in which the contract was to commence?

If one contracts to do something, then the contract must be followed through.

The only ground on which the contract be dispensed with seems to be that the renunciation may be treated as a breach of contract.

After renunciation of agreement by the defendant, P should be at liberty to consider himself absolved from any future performance of it, retaining the right to sue for any damage he has suffered from the breach of it. A renunciation by one party dispenses with a condition to be performed in the meantime by the other. No reason to wait until the day arrives when the contract was due to start, if already renounced, before seeking a remedy by action.

damages are the amount of lost wages between when the original contract was to begin and when the second contract began (between June 1 and July 3).