Tag Archives: Varina Davis

Andrew Johnson and Jefferson Davis: The Feud

Two Southern legislators, poles apart, bitter enemies. Andrew Johnson: Mechanic Andrew Johnson (1808-1875) was arguably the poorest of our Presidents, measured in family position (low) and wealth (even lower). His father, a porter for a small tavern-hotel in Raleigh NC, … Continue reading

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Seward and Davis: An Unlikely Friendship

Jefferson Davis and William Seward in their old age. William H. Seward: Republican Whig The 1850s was decade seething with unrest; a volcano just waiting to erupt. The Whigs had always been a cobbled-together party of various factions and sections … Continue reading

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Mrs. Grant and Mrs. Davis: A Healing Friendship

Two Civil war icons, one North, one South, finally met in old age, and became friends. Varina Davis: The Confederate Queen Varina Davis (1826-1905) first appeared on a national stage when she was eighteen and recently married to Congressional widower … Continue reading

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Jefferson Davis at Twilight

For a man with lifelong poor health, Jefferson Davis managed to live till eighty-one. The Three Careers of Jefferson Davis Jefferson Davis (1808-1889) was a quintessential Southerner of the early nineteenth century: one who easily and capably gravitated into three … Continue reading

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The Sons of Varina Davis

One of the little-known tragedies of Varina Davis’ life was that she survived all four of her sons. Samuel Emery Davis (1852-54) Forty-four year old Jefferson Davis and his twenty-six year old wife Varina had been married for seven years. … Continue reading

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Varina Davis as a New York Yankee

The last years of The First Lady of the Confederacy were spent as a New York Yankee. Varina Davis:  A Northern Lineage Although Varina Howell Davis (1826-1906) was born and raised in Natchez, Mississippi, she had prominent Northerners on her … Continue reading

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Jane Pierce and Varina Davis: An Unlikely Friendship

Historians are usually negative about First Lady Jane Pierce or tsk-tsk about the tragedies in her life, which were considerable.  Jane Appleton Pierce: A Tragic woman Jane Pierce (1806-63) despite her tragedies, is not a particularly sympathetic character. She was … Continue reading

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Jefferson Davis: The Petticoat Story

Jefferson Davis’ reputation will forever be tainted by foolish innuendo. Jefferson Davis: CSA’s Flawed Leader The Confederate president was a man of polarities.  Jefferson Davis (1808-1889) had some excellent character traits.  He was a courteous and surprisingly generous Southern gentleman.  … Continue reading

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Varina Davis: Queen of the South

In 1861,  Mrs. Jefferson Davis was hailed as the First Lady of the Confederacy.  Today she is virtually unknown.  Varina Howell Davis: The Early Years Even though Varina (pronounced Va-REE-na) Howell (1826-1906) was born and raised in Natchez, Mississippi, her … Continue reading

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Winnie Davis: The Daughter of the Confederacy

Varina Anne Davis was a tragic story from the start. Winnie Davis’ First Years “Little Pie Cake” as she was called for the first year of her life, entered the world in June, 1864, the second daughter and sixth child … Continue reading

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