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President of the Confederate States

From Turtledove

The President of the Confederate States of America was the Head of State and Head of Government of the Confederate States. The only person to hold the office was Jefferson Davis. He was President from February 18, 1861, to May 5, 1865, and his Vice President was Alexander Stephens. Neither the office nor the country were recognized by any foreign government. At the end of the American Civil War, the office ceased to exist.

The Guns of the South

After General Robert E. Lee led the Confederate States to victory during the Second American Revolution, he became the popular choice to succeed Jefferson Davis as President of the Confederate States.

President Term Party
Jefferson Davis 1862-1868
Robert E. Lee 1868-1873(?) Confederate Party

Southern Victory

The President was the executive officer in the Confederate States. From 1867 to 1939, the President was elected every six years and sworn in March 4 of the following year. Originally, the Confederate Constitution limited presidents to one term in office. Burton Mitchel served for almost two full terms because he succeded Wade Hampton V after Hampton's assassination. During Jake Featherston's term in office, a constitutional amendment passed allowing more than one term, and Featherston was easily reelected. There was never another presidential election after 1939.

Upon the Confederacy's defeat at the end of the Second Great War in 1944, and the death of Featherston, Don Partridge became president long enough to officially surrender the country. Once this act was completed, the office of President of the Confederate States ceased to exist.

President Term Party
Jefferson Davis 1861-1868 Whig
All Unknown 1868-1880
James Longstreet 1880-1886 Whig
Fitzhugh Lee* 1886-1892 Whig
All Unknown 1892-1910 Whig
Woodrow Wilson 1910-1916 Whig
Gabriel Semmes 1916-1922 Whig
Wade Hampton V 1922 Whig
Burton Mitchel 1922-1934 Whig
Jake Featherston 1934-1944 Freedom Party
Don Partridge 1944 Freedom
  • Fitzhugh Lee is not specified by name in the series. In The Center Cannot Hold, we learn that there was a President Lee. Some have suggested that this was Robert E. Lee. However, in several references to Robert E. Lee in the prior volumes, no mention was made of his having served as president.