George Davis (Confederate States politician)
- For the U.S. Representative from Illinois, see George R. Davis.
| George Davis | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 4th Confederate States Attorney General | |
|
In office January 2, 1864 – April 24, 1865 | |
| President | Jefferson Davis |
| Preceded by | Wade Keyes (Acting) |
| Succeeded by | Position abolished |
| Confederate States Senator from North Carolina | |
|
In office February 18, 1862 – January 2, 1864 | |
| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Succeeded by | Edwin Reade |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
March 1, 1820 Wilmington, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Died |
February 23, 1896 (aged 75) Wilmington, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Alma mater | University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill |
George Davis (March 1, 1820 – February 23, 1896) was a Confederate States of America political figure and the last Confederate Attorney General, serving from 1864 to 1865.
Early life and education
Born near Wilmington, North Carolina, George Davis attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he was valedictorian of the class of 1838. He subsequently studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1840. In 1848 he became general counsel of the Wilmington & Weldon Railroad. He held this position the rest of his life.
Political career
George Davis was a delegate from North Carolina to the unsuccessful Washington Peace Conference of February 4–27, 1861. He was a delegate to the Provisional Confederate Congress in 1861–1862, and was then elected to the Senate, where he served from 1862 to 1864. In December 1863, President Jefferson Davis appointed him Attorney General. He was in fact related to President Davis. He served in this position from January 2, 1864 until April 24, 1865, in the last days of the Confederacy.
Later life
George Davis was captured by U.S. forces at Key West, Florida, on October 18, 1865, and was imprisoned at Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn, New York. He spent several months at Fort Hamilton before being pardoned in 1866. he then returned to law practice in Wilmington.
Legacy
In World War II, the United States liberty ship SS George Davis was named in his honor.[1] A statue of Davis also stands in Wilmington, North Carolina.
References
- ↑ "Liberty Ships – Part 2: EMC #s 768 thru 1551". shipbuildinghistory.com. Retrieved 2011-08-13.
Bibliography
- Patrick, Rembert W. (1944). Jefferson Davis and His Cabinet. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press. pp. 104–120.
External links
- "George Davis". Find a Grave. Retrieved 2009-04-14.
- Short biography csawardept.com
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