Episode 28: President Jefferson Davis

For most of his life, Jefferson Davis was an honourable American soldier, a diligent planter, a brave leader and even a loving husband. Despite a roguish streak in his youth and a brief dalliance with radical politics, he settled into becoming a respected Mississippi politician. Even the Presidency itself might not lie beyond his reach, given his talents. In 1861, however, Davis suddenly found himself Presidency of a new would-be nation. In this episode we’ll trace the outline of his life, and briefly explore the strange Confederate convention which placed Jefferson Davis at the center of events. Note: Late in the episode I accidentally said “Jefferson C. Davis.” His name was properly Jefferson F. Davis. There was a separate Civil War general on the Union side by the name Jefferson C. Davis. I apologize for the error. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit uscivilwar.substack.com