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John Davis was an American lawyer, state Senator for Plymouth County, Washington United States attorney for the district of Massachusetts and the United States district court for the district of Massachusetts, whose judicial career was characterized by patience, urbanity, and sound discretion, and his exploration of the then almost untrodden paths of admiralty and maritime jurisdiction laid the legal profession under lasting obligations to him.
Background
John Davis was born on January 25, 1761 at Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States. He was the fourth child of Thomas Davis, a native of England who came to Plymouth in 1737, became a prosperous merchant of that town, and married in 1753 Mercy, daughter of Barnabas Hedge, a descendant of Governor William Bradford.
Education
Being a delicate child, Davis received his early education privately, and was prepared for college by Rev. Ezra Sampson of Plympton.
Davis entered Harvard College in 1777, where he distinguished himself in science as well as the classics, and attended Prof. Samuel Williams on the latter's journey in October 1780 to Penobscot Bay, to take observation of a solar eclipse.
After graduating in 1781, Davis conducted a private school in Plymouth, becoming later tutor in the family of General Otis at Barnstable. He then studied law in the office of Oakes Angier, at Bridgewater.
Career
On being admitted to the bar in 1786, Davis commenced practice at Plymouth. He rapidly came to the front and two years later was chosen delegate from Plymouth to the state convention which was called to consider the adoption of the Federal Constitution - being the youngest member thereof. Taking an active part in public matters, he was three times elected to the state House of Representatives, and in 1795 became state senator for Plymouth County, but in the same year was tendered by Washington the office of comptroller of the treasury of the United States, which he accepted. He held the position for only a year, however, his resignation being prompted by the inadequacy of his salary, and on retiring was appointed by Washington United States attorney for the district of Massachusetts.
Davis thereupon removed to Boston, which became his permanent home. In 1801 he was appointed by President Adams judge of the United States district court for the district of Massachusetts - a position which he occupied for forty years. His judicial career was characterized by patience, urbanity, and sound discretion, and his exploration of the then almost untrodden paths of admiralty and maritime jurisdiction laid the legal profession under lasting obligations to him. Perhaps his outstanding achievement was his wise and firm attitude during the period of commercial embarrassment in New England caused by the Embargo and the War of 1812, when, unaffected by the ill-concealed hostility of the exasperated mercantile interests, he steadily maintained the supremacy of the law, and by so doing ultimately acquired the respect and confidence of the community.
Davis resigned from the bench July 9, 1841, in his eighty-first year, upon which occasion the bar paid him a remarkable tribute. The remainder of his days were spent in retirement in Boston, Massachusetts.
In addition to his legal career, he pursued an interest in scientific phenomena, and was said to have been the first to use the word "pilgrim" as applicable to the Plymouth colonists, in his ode written for the anniversary celebration in 1794. In addition to a number of addresses and papers contributed to learned societies he edited Two Lectures on Comets by Professor Winthrop, Also an Essay on Comets by A. Oliver, Jr. Esq. (1811), with biographies and supplementary matter, and the fifth edition of Morton's New England's Memorial (1826), with large additions in marginal notes and an appendix.
A devoted supporter of Harvard, Davis actively shared in its administration, being successively Fellow in 1803, treasurer in 1810, and member of the board of overseers in 1827, which latter office he retained for ten years. John Davis died on January 14, 1847, in Boston, Massachusetts.
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Politics
In 1788, John Davis was selected as a delegate from Plymouth to the Massachusetts state convention, called to consider adoption of the Federal Constitution. He was elected and served three times in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, then in 1795 became state senator of Plymouth County.
Later in 1795, Davis accepted President George Washington's request to serve as Comptroller of the Treasury of the United States, a position he resigned from in 1796 over matters of salary.
Membership
John Davis was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1792. He was also a Fellow (1803), treasurer (1810) and member of the board of overseers (1827-1836).
Davis was also elected a member of the American Antiquarian Society in 1813.
He was president of the Massachusetts Historical Society from 1818 to 1835.
Interests
Throughout his life Davis maintained his interest in scientific phenomena, and was deeply versed in the history and antiquities of New England, being president of the Massachusetts Historical Society from 1818 to 1835.
Connections
In June 1786, John Davis married Ellen, daughter of W. Watson of Plymouth. They had three children.