Brackets indicate dates and entries that follow logically from information in primary sources but are not explicitly stated.
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1853
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March 5
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Arrives in Washington; meets with Franklin Pierce
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March 7
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Takes oath of office as secretary of war
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June 1-15
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Serves as acting secretary of the navy
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July-September
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Travels extensively in Northeast
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1854
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January-May
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Leads administration efforts in support of the Kansas-Nebraska Act
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June 13, 15
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Son Samuel Emory Davis dies; funeral at home
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August 28-September 4/5
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Travels with president; speaks in Virginia
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October 31
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Visits United States Military Academy
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1855
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February 25
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Daughter Margaret Howell Davis born
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June
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Visits Mississippi
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1856
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January 6
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Varina Davis confirmed at the Church of the Epiphany, Washington D.C.
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January 16
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Elected senator by Mississippi legislature
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October [16-19]
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Visits West Point
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1857
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January 16
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Son Jefferson Davis, Jr., born
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March 4
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Resigns as secretary of war; takes oath as senator
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May-November
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Visits Mississippi between sessions; speaks extensively
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December 7
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Congress convenes
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1858
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February 11-May 9
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Ill, at home
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July-October
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With family, spends summer in and around Portland, Maine
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October 11
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Speaks at Faneuil Hall in Boston, Massachusetts
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November
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Visits Mississippi
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December 6
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Congress convenes
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1859
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April 18
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Son Joseph Evan Davis born in Washington while Davis is in Mississippi
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May 7
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Arrives in Washington
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[late May-early June]
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Undergoes eye surgery
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[June-September]
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Family vacations at Oakland, Maryland
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October-November
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Visits Mississippi
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December 5
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Arrives in Washington; Congress convenes
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1860
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February 2
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Introduces resolutions on the relations of the states
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February 29
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Speaks in Senate on slavery and secession
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March 31
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Undergoes eye surgery
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April 10
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Returns to Senate
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May 7
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Address to the National Democracy in light of the southern walk-out at the Democratic Convention
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July 17-September 5
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Chairs United States Military Academy commission meetings at West Point
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September-November
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Speaks throughout Mississippi
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November 6
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Abraham Lincoln elected
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November 10
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Upon learning of Lincoln's election, writes candid letter to Robert Barnwell Rhett, Jr., concerning secession
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November 27
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Arrives in Washington
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December 3
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Congress convenes
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December 20
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South Carolina secedes
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1861
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January 5
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Meets with southern senators
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January 6
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[Attends caucus of Mississippi delegation at Willard Hotel, Washington D.C.]
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January 9
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Calls on President James Buchanan; speaks in Senate
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January 10
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Delivers major speech in Senate
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January 18
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Returns to Senate after illness
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January 20
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Writes Franklin Pierce about impending resignation
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January 21
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Delivers farewell address in Senate
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January 22
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Leaves Washington
