Jefferson Davis becomes President of the Confederate States

Filed under:
Civil War Events
Event date:
February 18, 2025 (This event repeats every year)
Anniversary:
February 18, 1861 (164 year anniversary)
Description:

February 18, 1861

Jefferson Davis became the first and only president of the Confederate States of America in 1861, following the secession of Southern states from the Union. A former U.S. senator and Secretary of War, Davis was chosen for his leadership experience and strong pro-slavery stance. He was inaugurated as president in February 1861, just as the Civil War began. Throughout the conflict, Davis struggled with the Confederacy's limited resources, military setbacks, and internal divisions. Despite his dedication to the Southern cause, the Confederacy ultimately lost the war, and Davis was captured in 1865. He spent two years in prison before being released, later writing his memoirs.