Background
Davis was born in Saint Louis, Missouri on July 5, 1879.
governor-general politician secretary Tennis player
Davis was born in Saint Louis, Missouri on July 5, 1879.
Harvard University.
He was the United States Assistant Secretary of War from 1923 to 1925. Davis reached the All-Comers final for the Men"s Singles title at the United States Championships in 1898 and 1899. Davis and Ward were also Men"s Doubles runners-up at Wimbledon in 1901.
He participated in the 1904 Summer Olympics.
He was eliminated in the second round of the singles tournament. Davis was educated at Washington University Law School, though he was never a practicing attorney.
He was, however, politically active in his home town of Saint Louis and served as the city"s public parks commissioner from 1911 to 1915. During his tenure, he expanded athletic facilities and created the first municipal tennis courts in the United States.
He served President Calvin Coolidge as Assistant Secretary of War (1923-1925) and as Secretary of War (1925-1929).
He then served as Governor General of the Philippines (1929-1932) under Herbert Hoover. He wintered in Florida from 1933 until his death, living at Meridian Plantation, near Tallahassee. Davis died in Washington, District of Columbia on November 28, 1945.
Davis has been honored with a star on the Saint Louis Walk of Fame.