Davis

CHARLES HENRY, (da'vis,) an American rear admiral, B. in Boston, Ma ., 1807. He entered the Navy in 1823, was appointed superintendent of the "Nautical Almanac" in 1850, and received in 1844 a commander's commi ion. He took the command of the Mi i ippi flotilla in 1862, was made rear-admiral in 1863, and superintendent of the National Observatory in1865. Davis, JEFFERSON, an American soldier and statesman, and sometime President of the so-called Southern Confederacy, was B. in Kentucky in 1808. After quitting Transylvania Coll., Ky., in 1824, he repaired to West Point, where he graduated in 1828, and was appointed brevet 2d lieutenant. After serving in the army for 7 years with distinction, during which time he had seen much Indian service and been promoted therefor, he resigned his commi ion in 1835, and became a cotton planter in Mi i ippi. In 1845, he was elected to Congre , and took a conspicuous part in the deliberations of that body, particularly those having relation to war questions. On the breaking out of the Mexican war, D. took command of the Ist Mi i ippi Volunteers, and highly distinguished himself at the storming ofMonterey, and also in the battle of Buena Vista, where his cool courage greatly contributed to the succe of the day. On his return home he declined a commi ion from President Polk of brigadier-general of volunteers, on the ground that such commi ions should only be granted by the state legislature, and not by the federal executive. From 1847 till 1851, he sat in the U.S. senate, where he was chosen chairman of the committee on military affairs. In 1853, he accepted the position of secretary of war in President Pierce's govt., and distinguished his administration of its affairs by a singular display of ability and energy. Taking a leading part in the sece ion movement of 1860-1, he resigned his seat in Congre in Feb. of the latter year, and in Nov. was elected President of the Southern Confederacy. After the collapse of the latter, he was taken prisoner in 1865, confined in Fortre Monroe for two years, released on bail, and finally was included in the general Davis, amnesty in of low a, 25th a December, S.S.E. co., 1868. b. on Mi ouri; area, abt. 480 sq. m.; C. Bloom field. Pop. 15,565.- In Kansas, a N.E. central co.; area, abt. 500 sq. m.; C. Junction City. Pop. 5,526. - In Utah Ter., an E. co.; C. Farming ton. Pop. 4,459. [s. 266]