Editing Jefferson Davis (section)

==Early life==
===Birth and family background===
Jefferson F.{{efn|Davis used the initial F., but there is no direct evidence what his middle name was. Some historians argue that the claim that it was "Finis" originated in Davis's biography by [[Hudson Strode]], who provides no citation.{{sfnm|1a1=Cooper|1y=2000|1p= 711 fn 1|2a1=Hattaway|2y=1992|2pp=1178–1179|3a1=Williams|3a2=Cooper|3a3=Roland|3y=2003|3p=429 fn 53}} (Also see {{harvnb|Rice University|2018}}.)}} Davis was the youngest of ten children of Jane and Samuel Emory Davis.{{sfn| Davis|1991|p=6}} Samuel Davis's father, Evan, who had a [[Wales|Welsh]] background, came to the [[colony of Georgia]] from Philadelphia.{{sfnm|Cooper|2000|1p=9|Davis|1991|2p=4|Eaton|1977|3p=2}}{{efn|[[Clement Eaton]], William Davis, and William Cooper agree that evidence about Evan Davis's origins is unclear (cf., {{harvnb|Davis|1927|pp=16–19}}, which is cited by Eaton.)}} Samuel served in the [[Continental Army]] during the [[American Revolutionary War]], and received a land grant for his service near present-day [[Washington, Georgia]].{{sfn|Davis|1991|pp=4–5}} He married Jane Cook, a woman of [[Scots-Irish Americans|Scots-Irish]] descent whom he had met in [[South Carolina]] during his military service, in 1783.{{sfnm|Cooper|2000|1p=11|Eaton|1977|2pp=2–3}} Around 1793, Samuel and Jane moved to Kentucky.{{sfn|Eaton|1977|p=3}} Jefferson was born on June 3, 1808,{{efn|Historians [[William C. Davis (historian)|William Davis]] and William Cooper acknowledge that Davis's birth year is uncertain; he may have been born in 1807. William Davis argues that 1807 is more likely correct based on Davis's own writings, his [[West Point]] muster rolls, and an 1850 biography by [[Collin S. Tarpley]] written in collaboration with Davis;{{sfn|Davis|1991|p=709 fn 8}} Cooper argues that 1808 is more likely correct because Davis stated in two letters written in 1858 and 1878 that this was the year his mother told him.{{sfn|Cooper|2000|p=662 fn1}}}} at the family homestead in Davisburg, a village Samuel had established that later became [[Fairview, Kentucky]].{{sfnm|Cooper|2000|1p=662 fn1|Davis|1991|2p=6|Rennick|1984|3p=97}} He was named after then-President [[Thomas Jefferson]].{{sfn|Cooper|2000|p=3}}

===Early education===
In 1810, the Davis family moved to [[Bayou Teche]], Louisiana. Less than a year later, they moved to a farm near [[Woodville, Mississippi]], where Samuel cultivated cotton, acquired twelve slaves,{{sfn|Cooper|2000|pp=12–14}} and built a house that Jane called [[Rosemont (Woodville, Mississippi)|Rosemont]].{{sfn|Eaton|1977|p=4}} During the [[War of 1812]], three of Davis's brothers served in the military.{{sfn|Davis|1991|p=7}} When Davis was around five, he received a rudimentary education at a small schoolhouse near Woodville.{{sfn|Cooper|2000|p=15}} When he was about eight, his father sent him with Major [[Thomas Hinds]] and his relatives to attend [[St. Rose Priory|Saint Thomas College]], a Catholic preparatory school run by [[Dominican Order|Dominicans]] near [[Springfield, Kentucky]].{{sfnm|Davis|1991|pp=10–13}} In 1818, Davis returned to Mississippi, where he briefly studied at [[Jefferson College (Mississippi)|Jefferson College]] in [[Washington, Mississippi|Washington]]. He then attended the Wilkinson County Academy near Woodville for five years.{{sfn|Davis|1991|p=15}} In 1823, Davis attended [[Transylvania University]] in [[Lexington, Kentucky|Lexington]].{{sfn|Cooper|2000|pp=23–24}} While he was still in college in 1824, he learned that his father Samuel had died. Before his death, Samuel had fallen into debt and sold Rosemont and most of his slaves to his eldest son [[Joseph Emory Davis]], who already owned a large estate in [[Davis Bend, Mississippi]], about {{Convert|15|mi|km|abbr=}} south of [[Vicksburg, Mississippi]].{{sfn|Davis|1991|pp=23–24}} Joseph, who was 23 years older than Davis,{{sfn|Davis|1991|p=8}} informally became his surrogate father.{{sfn|Cooper|2000|p=17}}

===West Point and early military career===
His older brother Joseph got Davis appointed to the [[United States Military Academy]] at West Point in 1824, where he became friends with classmates [[Albert Sidney Johnston]] and [[Leonidas Polk]].{{sfnm|Cooper|2000|1p=39|Davis|1991|2pp=25, 28{{endash}}29}} Davis frequently challenged the academy's discipline.{{sfnm|Cooper|2000|1p=33|Davis|1991|2pp=28–29}} In his first year, he was court-martialed for drinking at a nearby tavern. He was found guilty but was pardoned.{{sfn|Woodworth|1990|p=4}} The following year, he was placed under house arrest for his role in the [[Eggnog riot]] during Christmas 1826 but was not dismissed.{{sfn|Crackel|2002|p=88}} He graduated 23rd in a class of 33.{{sfn|Davis|1991|p=57}}

Second Lieutenant Davis was assigned to the [[1st Infantry Regiment (United States)|1st Infantry Regiment]]. He was accompanied by his personal servant James Pemberton, an enslaved [[African American]] whom he inherited from his father.{{sfn|Cooper|2000|p=49}} In early 1829, he was stationed at Forts [[Fort Crawford|Crawford]] and [[Fort Winnebago|Winnebago]] in [[Michigan Territory]] under the command of Colonel [[Zachary Taylor]],{{sfn|Scanlan|1940|p=175}} who later became [[president of the United States]].

Throughout his life, Davis regularly suffered from ill health.{{sfn|Cooper|2000|pp=3, 217, 309}} During the northern winters, he had [[pneumonia]], colds, and [[bronchitis]].{{sfn|Woodworth|1990|p=6}} He went to Mississippi on furlough in March 1832, missing the outbreak of the [[Black Hawk War]], and returned to duty just before the [[Battle of Bad Axe]], which ended the war.{{sfn|Cooper|2000|pp=54–55}} When [[Black Hawk (Sauk leader)|Black Hawk]] was captured, Davis escorted him for detention in St. Louis.{{sfn|Scanlan|1940|pp=178–179}} Black Hawk stated that Davis treated him with kindness.{{sfn|Black Hawk|1882|p=112}}

After Davis's return to Fort Crawford in January 1833, he and Taylor's daughter, Sarah, became romantically involved. Davis asked Taylor if he could marry Sarah, but Taylor refused.{{sfn|Davis|1991|pp=51–52}} In spring, Taylor had him assigned to the [[1st Cavalry Regiment (United States)#Formation|United States Regiment of Dragoons]] under Colonel [[Henry Dodge]]. He was promoted to first lieutenant and deployed at [[Fort Gibson]] in [[Arkansas Territory]].{{sfn|Cooper|2000|pp=55–56}} In February 1835, Davis was [[court-martial]]ed for insubordination.{{sfn|Davis|1991|pp=68–69}} He was acquitted. He requested a furlough, and immediately after it ended, he tendered his resignation, which was effective on June 30.{{sfn|Eaton|1977|p=19}}