The New Student's Reference Work/Davis, Jefferson



Da′vis, Jefferson, was born in Christian (now Todd) County, Ky., June 3, 1808. He received an appointment from President Monroe to West Point, where he graduated in 1828. After serving in the War, he left the army and engaged in cotton-planting near Vicksburg, Miss. In 1845 he was elected to Congress, but resigned his seat the next year to take part in the Mexican War. As colonel of the First Mississippi Volunteers, he fought under General Taylor at Monterey and at Buena Vista, where he was wounded.

Mr. Davis was elected to the United States senate in 1847, resigning his seat in 1851. In 1853 he became secretary of war under President Pierce. In 1857 he again entered the senate, where he became a leader of the Democratic party and a champion of slavery and of state-sovereignty. He resigned his seat when Mississippi seceded from the Union, and was elected president of the Confederate States when that government was organized, Feb. 18, 1861. In 1862 he was re-elected to this office for a term of six years. By reason of his official position, as well as by his ability and force of character, his was the guiding hand in the long struggle. He was unwilling to give up when the cause had become hopeless. In his last message, dated March 13, 1865, he declared that, in spite of reverses, success might yet be secured. Lee surrendered at Appomattox in less than 30 days after this. On the approach of the Federal army Mr. Davis left Richmond, and, after a conference with Generals Johnston and Beauregard at Greensboro, N. C., he set out with an escort westward through Georgia. He was captured at Irwinville in that state, May 10, by a detachment of Federal soldiers under Lieutenant-Colonel Pritchard. He was confined at Fortress Monroe for two years, was indicted for treason in 1866, was admitted to bail May 13, 1867, but was never brought to trial. He lived in retirement until his death, at, La., Dec. 6, 1889. In 1881 he published The Rise and Fall of the Confederate Government.