Jefferson Davis' Birthday in 2024

When is Jefferson Davis Birthday?

Jefferson Davis Birthday is an official state holiday in Alabama on the first Monday in June.

This holiday commemorates the first and only President of the Confederate States of America.

History of Jefferson Davis Birthday

Jefferson Davis was born on June 3rd 1808 in Kentucky. He was named after Thomas Jefferson. After training at West Point, Davis joined the army before being elected to the House of Representatives in 1845. A year later, Davis resigned his seat in Congress to serve in the Mexican-American War as a colonel in command of the First Mississippi volunteers. He became a national hero for winning the Battle of Buena Vista in 1847. He returned to politics and represented Mississippi in the Senate.

Though he had expected to become the leader of the Confederate army during the American Civil War, to his surprise he made was the President of the Confederacy.

After the end of the war, Davis was captured and accused of treason. At dawn on May 10th 1865, Davis was captured near Irwinville, Georgia. He was imprisoned in a damp casemate at Fort Monroe, Virginia, and was put in leg-irons. He was never tried and was released after two years.

His birthday has been observed as a holiday in several southern states over the years. Nowadays, Alabama is the only state that still observes a holiday in his honor. Mississippi marks Davis' birthday but includes it in the Memorial Day celebration. In Texas, Davis' birthday is part of "Confederate Heroes Day".

Most state offices will be closed today for the holiday. Federal offices, banks and the U.S. Post Office do not mark the holiday and will be open.