Secretary of War and Senator
(1853-61)
Brackets indicate dates and entries that follow logically from information in primary sources but are not explicitly stated.
- 1853
- March 5
- Arrives in Washington; meets with Franklin Pierce
- March 7
- Takes oath of office as secretary of war
- June 1-15
- Serves as acting secretary of the navy
- July-September
- Travels extensively in Northeast
- 1854
- January-May
- Leads administration efforts in support of the Kansas-Nebraska Act
- June 13, 15
- Son Samuel Emory Davis dies; funeral at home
- August 28-September 4/5
- Travels with president; speaks in Virginia
- October 31
- Visits United States Military Academy
- 1855
- February 25
- Daughter Margaret Howell Davis born
- June
- Visits Mississippi
- 1856
- January 6
- Varina Davis confirmed at the Church of the Epiphany, Washington D.C.
- January 16
- Elected senator by Mississippi legislature
- October [16-19]
- Visits West Point
- 1857
- January 16
- Son Jefferson Davis, Jr., born
- March 4
- Resigns as secretary of war; takes oath as senator
- May-November
- Visits Mississippi between sessions; speaks extensively
- December 7
- Congress convenes
- 1858
- February 11-May 9
- Ill, at home
- July-October
- With family, spends summer in and around Portland, Maine
- October 11
- Speaks at Faneuil Hall in Boston, Massachusetts
- November
- Visits Mississippi
- December 6
- Congress convenes
- 1859
- April 18
- Son Joseph Evan Davis born in Washington while Davis is in Mississippi
- May 7
- Arrives in Washington
- [late May-early June]
- Undergoes eye surgery
- [June-September]
- Family vacations at Oakland, Maryland
- October-November
- Visits Mississippi
- December 5
- Arrives in Washington; Congress convenes
- 1860
- February 2
- Introduces resolutions on the relations of the states
- February 29
- Speaks in Senate on slavery and secession
- March 31
- Undergoes eye surgery
- April 10
- Returns to Senate
- May 7
- Address to the National Democracy in light of the southern walk-out at the Democratic Convention
- July 17-September 5
- Chairs United States Military Academy commission meetings at West Point
- September-November
- Speaks throughout Mississippi
- November 6
- Abraham Lincoln elected
- November 10
- Upon learning of Lincoln's election, writes candid letter to Robert Barnwell Rhett, Jr., concerning secession
- November 27
- Arrives in Washington
- December 3
- Congress convenes
- December 20
- South Carolina secedes
- 1861
- January 5
- Meets with southern senators
- January 6
- [Attends caucus of Mississippi delegation at Willard Hotel, Washington D.C.]
- January 9
- Calls on President James Buchanan; speaks in Senate
- January 10
- Delivers major speech in Senate
- January 18
- Returns to Senate after illness
- January 20
- Writes Franklin Pierce about impending resignation
- January 21
- Delivers farewell address in Senate
- January 22
- Leaves Washington