Background
Davis was born in Dublin, Ireland, where he attended private schools.
Davis was born in Dublin, Ireland, where he attended private schools.
In 1817, he emigrated with his family to the United States and they settled in Providence, Rhode Island. In Providence, he engaged in jewelry manufacturing and became quite wealthy. Davis was elected to the Thirty-third Congress, and served from March 4, 1853 to March 3, 1855.
While in Congress, he was outspoken about his disapproval of the Missouri Compromise.
In 1854, he was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection to the Thirty-fourth Congress, and returned to his manufacturing pursuits. Davis hoped to return to Congress, and was an unsuccessful candidate for election to the Thirty-sixth, Forty-second, Forty-third, and Forty-sixth Congresses.
He was an abolitionist and was against the real estate requirement for voting that Rhode Island imposed upon naturalized citizens. Davis died in Providence on July 26, 1895 and is interred in Swan Point Cemetery.
In 2003, he was inducted into the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame.
He was a Democratic member of the United States. House of Representatives, and served in the Rhode Island State Senate and the Rhode Island House of Representatives. He became involved in politics and was a member of the Rhode Island State Senate from 1845 to 1853. He served in the State Senate again in 1877 and 1878, and was a member of the State House from 1887-1890.
Davis was on the North Providence, Rhode Island executive school committee, and was a member of the Rhode Island Historical Society.