Jefferson Finis Davis (June 3, 1808 – December 6, 1889) was the leader of the Confederacy during the American Civil War, serving as its President. Prior to his presidency of the Confederate States of America, Jefferson served as Senator from Mississippi from 1847- 1851, and the United States Secretary of War from 1853-1857.
He was chosen as President of the C.S.A. partly because he was a well-known and experienced moderate who had served in a president's cabinet. In meetings of his own Mississippi legislature, Davis had argued against secession; but when a majority of the delegates opposed him, he gave in.Davis wanted to serve as a general in the Confederate States Army and not as the president, but accepted the role for which he had been chosen. He was sworn in as President in Montgomery, Alabama , February 18, 1861.
In spite of his former status as the president of the Confederacy, Jefferson Davis began to encourage reconciliation by the late 1880s, telling Southerners to be loyal to the Union.
