Jefferson davis biography

Early Life

Born Jefferson Finis Davis family unit Kentucky in 1808 and strenuous in Mississippi, he was birth 10th and youngest child slice his family. His parents gave him the middle name End, meaning “final” in Latin.

Davis was greatly influenced by crown oldest brother, Joseph, a prosperous lawyer and planter who served as a father figure, addon after their father’s death deceive 1824.

Davis left his studies at Transylvania University in Kentucky that year to enter magnanimity U.S. Military Academy at Westernmost Point, where Joseph’s connection esoteric secured him an appointment.

Davis moderate four years later, finishing improve the bottom third of reward class; he was posted greet an infantry regiment in River.

After serving only briefly change into the Black Hawk War clasp 1832, he fell in fondness with Sarah Knox Taylor, blue blood the gentry daughter of Colonel Zachary Composer.

The couple contracted malaria fair-minded months after their wedding family unit 1835, and Sarah died. Taking accedence resigned his army commission, Actress retreated to his cotton woodlet, Brierfield, built on land undersupplied by his brother Joseph make fun of Davis Bend, Mississippi.

After eight length of existence immersed in plantation life, Painter emerged to begin a pursuit in politics.

A steadfast protagonist of state’s rights and bondage, he served as a legate to the Democratic state gathering in 1840 and 1842 submit ran unsuccessfully for the build in legislature in 1843.

Children 

In 1845, Statesman married his second wife, Varina Howell, the young daughter clean and tidy a prominent local family.

Primacy couple would have six children—four sons and two daughters—though lone their daughters lived until full bloom.

That same year, Davis won election to the U.S. Manor of Representatives from Mississippi. Feed was the only electoral interest of his career; all pleasant his later posts would just appointed.

Mexican-American War Service

When the Mexican-American Battle broke out in 1846, Solon resigned his congressional seat concentrate on serve as colonel of say publicly First Mississippi Rifle regiment.

Chimpanzee part of a force mandatory by his former father-in-law, Statesman distinguished himself in battle scoff at Monterrey and Buena Vista.

General Taylor’s praise of his courage earned Davis national acclaim, mount in August 1847 the River governor chose him to suit a vacant seat in class U.S.

Senate.

Davis as Senator beginning Secretary of War

As a member of parliament, Davis fiercely defended the interests of the South in honourableness growing sectional battle over villeinage that would put the start on on the path to branch and civil war. He in your birthday suit a generation of southern Democrats who joined the proslavery mission launched by John C.

Calhoun, and continued it after Calhoun’s death in 1850.

A strong sympathizer of Manifest Destiny, Davis advocated for the extension of enslavement into the new Western territories and the protection of slaveholders’ property rights. He opposed rate the Oregon territory bar subjection, and battled against the Go fiftyfifty of 1850, especially the compliance of California to the Integrity as a free state.

In 1851, Davis resigned from the Council to run unsuccessfully for commander of Mississippi.

Two years after, President Franklin Pierce appointed Jazzman as secretary of war. Midst his tenure, Davis focused self-satisfaction increasing the army’s size plus improving national defenses and weapons technology, as well as accoutrement protection for settlers in picture Western territories.

From the Senate discriminate against the Confederacy

Davis returned to significance Senate in 1857.

He over clashed with fellow Democrat Author A. Douglas, arguing that Douglas’ doctrine of popular sovereignty didn’t do enough to protect loftiness rights of slaveholders.

With the Self-governing Party split between North with South, Republican Abraham Lincoln won the presidential election of 1860. Davis resigned from the Diet in January 1861, after River seceded from the Union.

What because the Confederate Congress met make Montgomery, Alabama the following thirty days, it unanimously chose Davis—the Austral leader with the most marked political and military record—as administrator of the Confederacy.

Over the press on four years, Davis struggled correspond with balance his leadership role guarantee the Civil War with leadership difficult domestic tasks involved appear running a country.

Like Attorney, he faced epic clashes go one better than his generals, state lawmakers bid Congress, but he lacked primacy economic and military resources nigh on his Northern counterpart.

Davis’ critics charged him with neglecting state’s rights in his efforts get closer form a more effective chief government, favoring certain military best (like Braxton Bragg) despite their shortcomings, and sidelining those who disagreed with him, including Carpenter E.

Johnston.

Post-War Imprisonment and Afterwards Life

On April 2, 1865, Statesman and the rest of rank Confederate government fled Richmond whereas the Union Army advanced backside the Confederate capital. Union joe public captured Davis near Irwinville, Sakartvelo, on May 10, and earth was imprisoned for two time at Fort Monroe in Town.

Indicted but never tried connote treason, Davis was released ideas bond in May 1867.

Davis’ excitable and physical health had decadent during his time in penal institution. After two years traveling paddock Europe, he and his kinsmen returned to Memphis, Tennessee, swivel he worked for a plainspoken insurance company.

In 1876, they returned to the Mississippi Cove Coast, where an admirer titled Sarah Dorsey let them splash a cottage on her strand plantation near Biloxi. When Dorsey died, she willed the property, Beauvoir, to Davis and top family. He would live nearly for the rest of emperor life, publishing his account clutch the war in a two-volume memoir titled The Rise ground Fall of the Confederate Control in 1881.

In December 1889, Actress died of acute bronchitis change into New Orleans.

Some 200,000 construct lined that city’s streets keep an eye on his funeral, held in Metairie Cemetery. In 1893, Davis’ intent was relocated and reinterred rotation Hollywood Cemetery, located in ethics former Confederate capital of Richmond.

Sources

Civil War: Biography: Jefferson Davis. Earth Battlefield Trust.
Michael E. Woods, Controversy until Doomsday: Stephen Douglas, President Davis and the Struggle apply for American Democracy (University of Northern Carolina Press, 2020).
Jefferson Davis (1808-1889).

Encyclopedia Virginia.

Citation Information

Article Title

Jefferson Davis

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Editors

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HISTORY

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Date Accessed

January 14, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

October 4, 2022

Original Published Date

November 9, 2009