Jefferson Davis

Early life and military career

Jefferson Davis was born June 3, 1808 on a farm in Christian County, Kentucky, near the border with Todd County. Davis, the last of the ten children of Samuel Emory Davis and his wife, Jane, had come from a family of rich American history. The younger Davis's grandfather had immigrated to the United States from Wales and had once lived in Virginia and Maryland, working as a public servant. His father, along with his uncles, had served in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War, his father serving with the Georgia cavalry and leading in the battle of Savannah as an infantry officer. His older brothers also served. During the War of 1812, three of Davis's brothers fought the British, two of them serving under Andrew Jackson and receiving his commendation for bravery in the Battle of New Orleans.

Related Topics:
June 3 - 1808 - Christian County, Kentucky - Todd County - Samuel Emory Davis - American history - United States - Wales - Virginia - Maryland - Public servant - Continental Army - Revolutionary War - Georgia - Cavalry - Savannah - Infantry - War of 1812 - British - Andrew Jackson - Battle of New Orleans

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During Davis's youth, his family moved several times, in 1811 to St. Mary Parish, Louisiana, and in 1812 to Wilkinson County, Mississippi.

Related Topics:
1811 - St. Mary Parish, Louisiana - 1812 - Wilkinson County, Mississippi

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In 1813, Davis began his education together with his sister Mary, attending a log cabin school a mile from their home. Two years later, Davis entered the Catholic school of Saint Thomas Aquinas in Washington County, Kentucky. He went on to Jefferson College at Washington, Mississippi in 1818, and to Transylvania University at Lexington, Kentucky in 1821. In 1824, Davis entered the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York as a cadet.

Related Topics:
1813 - Log cabin - Saint Thomas Aquinas - Washington County, Kentucky - Jefferson College - Washington, Mississippi - 1818 - Transylvania University - Lexington, Kentucky - 1821 - 1824 - United States Military Academy - West Point, New York - Cadet

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Jefferson Davis successfully completed his four-year term of study at West Point, and graduated as a Second Lieutenant in June 1828. He was assigned to the 1st Infantry and stationed at Fort Crawford. His first assignment, in 1829, was to supervise the cutting of timber on the banks of the Red Cedar River for the repair and enlargement of the fort. Later the same year, he was reassigned to Fort Winnebago, Wisconsin. While supervising the construction and management of a sawmill in the Yellow River in 1831, he contracted pneumonia, causing him to return to Fort Crawford.

Related Topics:
Second Lieutenant - 1828 - 1st Infantry - Fort Crawford - 1829 - Red Cedar River - Fort Winnebago, Wisconsin - Sawmill - Yellow River - 1831 - Pneumonia

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The next year, Davis was dispatched to Galena, Illinois at the head of a detachment assigned to remove miners from lands claimed by Native Americans. His first combat assignment was during the Black Hawk War of the same year, after which he was assigned by his colonel, Zachary Taylor, to escort Black Hawk himself to prison at Jefferson Barracks—it is said that the chief liked Davis because of the kind treatment he had shown. Another of Davis's duties during this time was to keep miners from illegally entering what would eventually become the state of Iowa.

Related Topics:
Galena, Illinois - Miners - Native Americans - Black Hawk War - Zachary Taylor - Black Hawk - Jefferson Barracks - Iowa

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In 1833, Davis was promoted to First Lieutenant of the U.S. Regiment of Dragoons and made a regimental adjutant. 1834 saw his transfer to Fort Gibson.

Related Topics:
1833 - First Lieutenant - U.S. Regiment of Dragoons - Adjutant - 1834

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Jefferson Davis had fallen in love with Colonel Taylor's 16-year-old daughter, Sarah Knox Taylor. Her father did not approve of the match, so Davis resigned his commission and married Miss Taylor at the house of her aunt near Louisville, Kentucky.

Related Topics:
Sarah Knox Taylor - Louisville, Kentucky

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