Jefferson Davis was an American politician and soldier who served as the President of the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War. He was born on June 3, 1808, in Kentucky, and grew up on a plantation in Mississippi. Davis attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he graduated in 1828.
After serving in the U.S. Army for several years, Davis began his political career in the 1840s, serving as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives and later as a U.S. Senator from Mississippi. He was an advocate of states’ rights and slavery, and believed that secession was a legitimate response to perceived threats to these principles.
In 1861, following the secession of several Southern states, Davis was elected as the President of the Confederate States of America. He served in this role throughout the Civil War, overseeing the Confederate war effort and making key decisions regarding military strategy and diplomacy.
After the Confederate surrender in 1865, Davis was imprisoned for two years before being released on bail. He spent the rest of his life advocating for the Lost Cause of the Confederacy and defending his role in the Civil War. Davis died on December 6, 1889, in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Jefferson Davis
Do you want to know more about Jefferson Davis? Let’s take a look at these 36 interesting facts about Jefferson Davis.
- Jefferson Davis was the President of the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War.
- Davis was born on June 3, 1808, in Christian County, Kentucky.
- He was the youngest of ten children and his father died when he was two years old.
- Davis grew up on a plantation in Mississippi and attended Jefferson College in Natchez, Mississippi.
- He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1828.
- Davis served in the U.S. Army for seven years, during which he fought in the Black Hawk War and the Mexican-American War.
- Davis married his first wife, Sarah Knox Taylor, the daughter of future U.S. President Zachary Taylor, in 1835. She died of malaria three months later.
- Davis later married Varina Howell in 1845, with whom he had six children.
- Davis served as a U.S. Representative and Senator from Mississippi before becoming the Secretary of War under President Franklin Pierce.
- Davis resigned from his position as Secretary of War in 1861 to support secession and the Confederacy.
- Davis was elected as the President of the Confederate States of America on February 9, 1861.
- Davis’ vice president was Alexander Stephens.
- Davis was a strong advocate of states’ rights and believed that secession was a legitimate response to perceived threats to these principles.
- Davis authorized the attack on Fort Sumter, which marked the beginning of the American Civil War.
- Davis was a hands-on president and was heavily involved in military strategy and diplomacy.
- Davis clashed with several of his generals, including Stonewall Jackson and Robert E. Lee.
- Davis declared martial law in several Confederate states during the Civil War.
- Davis’ administration struggled with economic issues, including inflation and shortages of supplies.
- Davis’ wife, Varina, was known for her intelligence and wit, and was highly respected by the Confederate soldiers.
- Davis’ personal secretary was Burton Harrison, who was with him until the end of the Civil War.
- Davis was captured by Union forces in May 1865.
- Davis was imprisoned at Fort Monroe in Virginia for two years.
- Davis was charged with treason but was never tried.
- Davis was released on bail in May 1867.
- Davis spent the rest of his life defending his role in the Civil War and advocating for the Lost Cause of the Confederacy.
- Davis’ health began to decline in the 1880s.
- Davis wrote a memoir, “The Rise and Fall of the Confederate Government,” which was published in 1881.
- Davis was offered the presidency of Texas A&M University in 1876 but declined the position.
- Davis served as the president of the Mississippi Valley Historical Association from 1884 to 1889.
- Davis was a member of the Masonic Lodge.
- Davis suffered from rheumatism, malaria, and other health issues throughout his life.
- Davis was deeply religious and attended the Episcopal Church.
- Davis was a skilled orator and was known for his eloquence and charisma.
- Davis died on December 6, 1889, in New Orleans, Louisiana.
- Davis’ funeral was attended by thousands of people, including former Confederate soldiers and Union veterans.
- Davis’ legacy has been controversial, with some viewing him as a hero and defender of states’ rights, while others view him as a traitor and defender of slavery.
Jefferson Davis was a complex figure in American history. He was a soldier, politician, and statesman, who played a pivotal role in the American Civil War as the President of the Confederate States of America. He was a strong advocate for states’ rights and secession, but also faced numerous challenges as a wartime leader, including economic issues and disagreements with his generals. After the war, Davis continued to defend the Lost Cause of the Confederacy and his role in it, but his legacy has been debated by historians and the public. Regardless of one’s opinion of him, Jefferson Davis remains an important figure in American history, representing the divisions and struggles of a nation during a critical period.
