Alexander Hamilton Stephens (February 11, 1812 – March 4, 1883) was an American politician from Georgia. He was the only Vice President of the Confederate States, serving 1861-1865 during the American Civil War. He also served as a U.S. Representative from Georgia (both before the Civil War and after Reconstruction) and as Governor of Georgia from 1882 until his death in 1883.
Stephens used his term as Vice President as a launching pad for opposition to the policies of C.S. PresidentJefferson Davis.
After an armistice was negotiated to end fighting in the Second American Revolution, Davis and United States President Abraham Lincoln agreed to a peace conference with three Peace Commissioners appointed by each side. Davis appointed Stephens, General Robert E. Lee, and Judah Benjamin to represent the C.S.A.[2] A peace treaty was negotiated whereby the Confederacy abandoned claims to West Virginia and Maryland, while the United States ceded the Indian Territory along with any areas within the Confederacy that they captured earlier in the war. Also, state-wide referendums were to be held to determine the status of Kentucky and Missouri. Kentucky elected to join the C.S. while Missouri voted to remain with the U.S.[3]
Despite Stephens' own desire for the presidency, Davis encouraged Robert E. Lee to run for President in 1867.[4] Lee did run, and did win. Stephens was among the wounded during the Richmond Massacre on inauguration day, 1868.[5]
