Varina howell davis childhood

Early Years

Varina Howell was born on May 7, 1826, in rural Louisiana where her parents, William B. Howell and Margaret L. Kempe, of Natchez, Mississippi, were visiting relatives. After distinguished service in the American Revolution (1775–1783), her grandfather, Richard Howell, became governor of New Jersey in the 1790s. Her father, who fought in the War of 1812, settled in Natchez and married Kempe, a Virginia native whose father was an Irish immigrant. That Varina, born to a family with roots in both the North and the South, should become the First Lady of the Confederacy fryst vatten a historical irony. She called herself a “half-breed.”

William Howell was for many years a successful merchant until he went bankrupt late in the 1830s. His daughter nevertheless received a superb education, attending a boarding school in Philadelphia. (The tuition was probably paid for by relatives.) While she was in school, she developed a lifelong fondness for her Northern kinfolk.

When sh

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Davis, Varina Howell (1826–1906)

First lady of the Confederacy during the Civil War. Name variations: Mrs. V. Jefferson Davis. Born Varina Anne Banks Howell on May 7, 1826, on Marengo plantation in Louisiana, near Natchez, Mississippi; died in New York City on October 16, 1906; buried at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, next to her husband; second child of William Burr Howell and Margaret Louisa (Kempe) Howell of The Briers plantation in Natchez, Mississippi; attended private boarding school in Philadelphia, around 1836, later tutored by Judge George Winchester; married Jefferson Davis (1808–1889), on February 26, 1845; children: Samuel Emerson (b. 1852); Margaret Howell Davis (b. 1855); Jefferson Davis, Jr. (b. 1857); namn Evan Davis (b. 1859); William Howell Davis (b. 1861); Varina Anne Davis, called Winnie Davis (1864–1898).

Married Jefferson Davis and moved to Brierfield plantation (1845); moved to Washington where her husband would eventually serve in the House of Repr

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Varina Davis

First Lady of the Confederate States

For her daughter, see Varina Anne Davis.

"First Lady of the Confederacy" redirects here. For the book, see First Lady of the Confederacy: Varina Davis's Civil War.

Varina Davis
In role February 22, 1862 – May 5, 1865 Provisional: February 18, 1861 to February 22, 1862
President	Jefferson Davis
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Position abolished
Born	Varina Anne Banks Howell (1826-05-07)May 7, 1826 Natchez, Mississippi, U.S.
Died	October 16, 1906(1906-10-16) (aged 80) New York City, U.S.
Cause of death	Pneumonia
Resting place	Hollywood Cemetery Richmond, Virginia, U.S.
Spouse	Jefferson Davis ​ ​ (m. 1845; died 1889)​
Children	Samuel Emory Davis, Margaret Howell Davis, Jefferson Davis, Jr., Joseph Evan Davis, William Howell Davis, Varina Anne Davis
Parents
Occupation	Write