Edmund J. Davis
Encyclopedia
Edmund Jackson Davis was an American
lawyer, soldier, and politician. He was a Southern Unionist and served as a Union general in the American Civil War
, besides serving one term as the 14th Governor of Texas.
, a son of William Godwin Davis and his wife Mary Ann Channer. His father was a lawyer and land developer in St. Augustine. Davis moved with his parents to Galveston, Texas
in 1848. The following year, Davis moved to Corpus Christi
, where he was admitted to the bar. He was an inspector and deputy collector of customs from 1849 to 1853, when he was appointed district attorney of the 12th Judicial District. He next became a judge in that district.
in his stand against it. Davis also urged Robert E. Lee
not to violate his oath of allegiance to the United States—unsuccessfully. Davis ran to become a delegate to the Secession Convention, but was defeated. He thereafter refused to take an oath of allegiance to the Confederate States of America
, and was removed from office. He fled from Texas, taking refuge in Union occupied New Orleans, Louisiana
. He next sailed to Washington, D.C.
, where President Abraham Lincoln
issued him a colonel's commission, with authority to recruit the 1st Texas Cavalry Regiment (Union).
Davis recruited his regiment from Union men who had fled from Texas to Louisiana. The regiment would see considerable action during the remainder of the war. On November 10, 1864, President Lincoln appointed Davis as a brigadier general to rank from the same date. Lincoln did not submit Davis's nomination to this grade to the U.S. Senate until December 12, 1864. The U.S. Senate confirmed the appointment on February 14, 1865. Davis was among those present when General Edmund Kirby Smith
surrendered the Confederate forces in Texas on June 2, 1865. Davis was mustered out of the volunteers on August 24, 1865.
In 1869 he ran for governor against Andrew Jackson Hamilton and was narrowly elected the 14th Governor of Texas
. As a Radical Republican during Reconstruction, his term in office was very controversial. His opponents accused him of institutionalizing his political opponents, suppressing newspapers in violation of the First Amendment
, and denying enfranchisement to regular Republicans. On July 22, 1870, the Texas State Police
came into being, to combat crime statewide in Texas. It worked against racially-based crimes, and included black police, which caused howls of protest from former slaveowners (and future segregationists). Davis also created the "State Guard of Texas" and the "Reserve Militia", which were forerunners of the Texas National Guard
.
Davis' government was marked by a commitment to the civil rights of black people. One of his protégés was Norris Wright Cuney
, who continued the struggle for equality until his own death in 1896 and is honored as one of the important figures in Texas and American black history. Davis was accordingly hated by racists, and for a century after his time, most things written about him were tinged with this attitude.
Davis was defeated for reelection by Democrat
Richard Coke
(42,633 votes to 85,549 votes)in an election marked by irregularities. Davis contested the results and refused to leave his office on the ground floor of the Capitol. Democratic lawmakers and Governor-elect Coke reportedly had to climb ladders to the Capitol's second story where the legislature convened. When President Grant refused to send troops to the defeated governor's rescue, Davis reluctantly left the capital in January 1874. He locked the door to the governor's office and took the key, forcing Coke's supporters to break in with an axe. John Henninger Reagan
helped oust him after he tried to stay in office beyond the end of his term.
Davis was the last Republican Governor of Texas until Bill Clements
took office 105 years later. Davis ran for governor again in 1880 but was soundly defeated. That same year his name was placed in nomination for vice president of the United States at the Republican National Convention (had he succeeded, he might have wound up in the White House as did the man who received the vice presidential nomination that year, Chester A. Arthur
). He lost an election for the United States House of Representatives in 1882. He was nominated to be collector of customs at Galveston but declined because he disliked President Rutherford B. Hayes
.
Edmund J. Davis died in 1883 and is interred at Texas State Cemetery
in Austin, Texas
. He was survived by his wife, the former Anne Elizabeth Britton (whose father, Forbes Britton, has been chief of staff to Texas Governor Sam Houston
), and two sons, Britton (a West Point graduate and military officer), and Waters (an attorney and merchant in El Paso
).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer, soldier, and politician. He was a Southern Unionist and served as a Union general in the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, besides serving one term as the 14th Governor of Texas.
Early years
Davis was born in St. Augustine, FloridaSt. Augustine, Florida
St. Augustine is a city in the northeast section of Florida and the county seat of St. Johns County, Florida, United States. Founded in 1565 by Spanish explorer and admiral Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, it is the oldest continuously occupied European-established city and port in the continental United...
, a son of William Godwin Davis and his wife Mary Ann Channer. His father was a lawyer and land developer in St. Augustine. Davis moved with his parents to Galveston, Texas
Galveston, Texas
Galveston is a coastal city located on Galveston Island in the U.S. state of Texas. , the city had a total population of 47,743 within an area of...
in 1848. The following year, Davis moved to Corpus Christi
Corpus Christi, Texas
Corpus Christi is a coastal city in the South Texas region of the U.S. state of Texas. The county seat of Nueces County, it also extends into Aransas, Kleberg, and San Patricio counties. The MSA population in 2008 was 416,376. The population was 305,215 at the 2010 census making it the...
, where he was admitted to the bar. He was an inspector and deputy collector of customs from 1849 to 1853, when he was appointed district attorney of the 12th Judicial District. He next became a judge in that district.
Civil War years
In early 1861 Davis opposed secession and supported Governor Sam HoustonSam Houston
Samuel Houston, known as Sam Houston , was a 19th-century American statesman, politician, and soldier. He was born in Timber Ridge in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, of Scots-Irish descent. Houston became a key figure in the history of Texas and was elected as the first and third President of...
in his stand against it. Davis also urged Robert E. Lee
Robert E. Lee
Robert Edward Lee was a career military officer who is best known for having commanded the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia in the American Civil War....
not to violate his oath of allegiance to the United States—unsuccessfully. Davis ran to become a delegate to the Secession Convention, but was defeated. He thereafter refused to take an oath of allegiance to the Confederate States of America
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
, and was removed from office. He fled from Texas, taking refuge in Union occupied New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
. He next sailed to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, where President Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
issued him a colonel's commission, with authority to recruit the 1st Texas Cavalry Regiment (Union).
Davis recruited his regiment from Union men who had fled from Texas to Louisiana. The regiment would see considerable action during the remainder of the war. On November 10, 1864, President Lincoln appointed Davis as a brigadier general to rank from the same date. Lincoln did not submit Davis's nomination to this grade to the U.S. Senate until December 12, 1864. The U.S. Senate confirmed the appointment on February 14, 1865. Davis was among those present when General Edmund Kirby Smith
Edmund Kirby Smith
Edmund Kirby Smith was a career United States Army officer and educator. He served as a general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War, notable for his command of the Trans-Mississippi Department of the Confederacy after the fall of Vicksburg.After the conflict ended Smith...
surrendered the Confederate forces in Texas on June 2, 1865. Davis was mustered out of the volunteers on August 24, 1865.
Post war
Following the war's end, Davis became a member of the 1866 Texas Constitutional Convention. He supported the rights of the freed slaves and urged the division of Texas into several Republican controlled states.In 1869 he ran for governor against Andrew Jackson Hamilton and was narrowly elected the 14th Governor of Texas
Governor of Texas
The governor of Texas is the head of the executive branch of Texas's government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor has the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Texas Legislature, and to convene the legislature...
. As a Radical Republican during Reconstruction, his term in office was very controversial. His opponents accused him of institutionalizing his political opponents, suppressing newspapers in violation of the First Amendment
First Amendment to the United States Constitution
The First Amendment to the United States Constitution is part of the Bill of Rights. The amendment prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering...
, and denying enfranchisement to regular Republicans. On July 22, 1870, the Texas State Police
Texas State Police
The Texas State Police were formed during the administration of Texas Governor Edmund J. Davis on July 22, 1870, to combat crime statewide in Texas. It was dissolved April 22, 1873.-History:...
came into being, to combat crime statewide in Texas. It worked against racially-based crimes, and included black police, which caused howls of protest from former slaveowners (and future segregationists). Davis also created the "State Guard of Texas" and the "Reserve Militia", which were forerunners of the Texas National Guard
Texas National Guard
The Texas National Guard consists of the Texas Army National Guard and the Texas Air National Guard. The Guard is administered by the adjutant general, an appointee of the governor of Texas. The Constitution of the United States specifically charges the National Guard with dual federal and state...
.
Davis' government was marked by a commitment to the civil rights of black people. One of his protégés was Norris Wright Cuney
Norris Wright Cuney
Norris Wright Cuney, or simply Wright Cuney, was an American politician, union leader, and African American activist in Texas in the United States. He became active in Galveston politics serving as an alderman and a national Republican delegate...
, who continued the struggle for equality until his own death in 1896 and is honored as one of the important figures in Texas and American black history. Davis was accordingly hated by racists, and for a century after his time, most things written about him were tinged with this attitude.
Davis was defeated for reelection by Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Richard Coke
Richard Coke
Richard Coke was an American lawyer, farmer, and statesman from Waco, Texas. He was the 15th governor of Texas from 1874 to 1876 and represented Texas in the U.S. Senate from 1877 to 1895. His uncle was Congressman Richard Coke, Jr..Coke was born in Williamsburg, Virginia, to John and Eliza Coke...
(42,633 votes to 85,549 votes)in an election marked by irregularities. Davis contested the results and refused to leave his office on the ground floor of the Capitol. Democratic lawmakers and Governor-elect Coke reportedly had to climb ladders to the Capitol's second story where the legislature convened. When President Grant refused to send troops to the defeated governor's rescue, Davis reluctantly left the capital in January 1874. He locked the door to the governor's office and took the key, forcing Coke's supporters to break in with an axe. John Henninger Reagan
John Henninger Reagan
John Henninger Reagan , was a leading 19th century American politician from the U.S. state of Texas. A Democrat, Reagan resigned from the U.S. House of Representatives when Texas seceded from the Union and joined the Confederate States of America. He served in the cabinet of Jefferson Davis as...
helped oust him after he tried to stay in office beyond the end of his term.
Davis was the last Republican Governor of Texas until Bill Clements
Bill Clements
William Perry "Bill" Clements, Jr. was the 42nd and 44th Governor of Texas, serving from 1979 to 1983 and 1987 to 1991. Clements was the first Republican to have served as governor of the U.S. state of Texas since Reconstruction...
took office 105 years later. Davis ran for governor again in 1880 but was soundly defeated. That same year his name was placed in nomination for vice president of the United States at the Republican National Convention (had he succeeded, he might have wound up in the White House as did the man who received the vice presidential nomination that year, Chester A. Arthur
Chester A. Arthur
Chester Alan Arthur was the 21st President of the United States . Becoming President after the assassination of President James A. Garfield, Arthur struggled to overcome suspicions of his beginnings as a politician from the New York City Republican machine, succeeding at that task by embracing...
). He lost an election for the United States House of Representatives in 1882. He was nominated to be collector of customs at Galveston but declined because he disliked President Rutherford B. Hayes
Rutherford B. Hayes
Rutherford Birchard Hayes was the 19th President of the United States . As president, he oversaw the end of Reconstruction and the United States' entry into the Second Industrial Revolution...
.
Edmund J. Davis died in 1883 and is interred at Texas State Cemetery
Texas State Cemetery
The Texas State Cemetery is a cemetery located on about just east of downtown Austin, the capital of Texas. Originally the burial place of Edward Burleson, Texas Revolutionary general and Vice-President of the Republic of Texas, it was expanded into a Confederate cemetery during the Civil War...
in Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
. He was survived by his wife, the former Anne Elizabeth Britton (whose father, Forbes Britton, has been chief of staff to Texas Governor Sam Houston
Sam Houston
Samuel Houston, known as Sam Houston , was a 19th-century American statesman, politician, and soldier. He was born in Timber Ridge in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, of Scots-Irish descent. Houston became a key figure in the history of Texas and was elected as the first and third President of...
), and two sons, Britton (a West Point graduate and military officer), and Waters (an attorney and merchant in El Paso
El Paso, Texas
El Paso, is a city in and the county seat of El Paso County, Texas, United States, and lies in far West Texas. In the 2010 census, the city had a population of 649,121. It is the sixth largest city in Texas and the 19th largest city in the United States...
).
See also
- List of American Civil War generals (Union)
Further reading
- Carl H. Moneyon. Edmund J. Davis: Civil War General, Republican Leader, Reconstruction Governor (Texas Christian University Press, 2010) 352 pages. Biography.
External links
- Eicher, John H., and David J. EicherDavid J. EicherDavid John Eicher is an American editor, writer, and popularizer of astronomy and space. He has been editor-in-chief of Astronomy magazine since 2002...
, Civil War High Commands. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2001. ISBN 0-8047-3641-3.