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Jefferson Finis Davis ( June 3, 1808 – December 6, 1889 ) was an American statesman and leader of the Confederacy during the American Civil War, serving as President of the Confederate States of America for its entire history.

Davis was born in Kentucky to Samuel and Jane ( Cook ) Davis.

After attending Transylvania University, Davis graduated from West Point and fought in the Mexican – American War as a colonel of a volunteer regiment.

He served as the United States Secretary of War under Democratic President Franklin Pierce.

Both before and after his time in the Pierce administration, he served as a Democratic U. S. Senator representing the State of Mississippi.

As a senator, he argued against secession, but did agree that each state was sovereign and had an unquestionable right to secede from the Union.