Gov. John Davis

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Davis_(Massachusetts_Governor)

John Davis (January 13, 1787 – April 19, 1854) was an American lawyer, businessman and politician.

Early life

John Davis was born in Northborough, Massachusetts. He graduated from Yale College in 1812, where he was one of the four founding members of the Skull and Dagger secret society.

Early career

Following his graduation Davis went on to practice law in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Political career

Davis represented Massachusetts in the U.S. House of Representatives in the 19th, 20th, 21st, 22nd and 23rd Congress to January 14, 1834, when he resigned, having been elected Governor.

He served as the 14th and 17th Governor of Massachusetts from 1834 to 1835. Elected as an Anti-Jacksonian (later Whig) to the United States Senate and served in the 24th, 25th, 26th and 27th Congress to January 5, 1841, when he resigned. He chaired the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce in 1835 and 1836.

Business career

In 1844, Mr. Davis, his nephew, and several friends founded the State Mutual Life Assurance Company of Worcester, one of only five life insurance companies in the 26 United States.

Later political career

Again he served as Governor of Massachusetts from 1841–1843 and again elected in 1845 to the U.S. Senate, as a Whig, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Isaac C. Bates. He was re-elected in 1847 and served in the 29th, 30th, 31st and 32nd Congress to March 3, 1853 when he declined to be a candidate for renomination in 1852, and retired from public life.

Death

He died in Worcester, Massachusetts and was interred in the Rural Cemetery.

Personal life

He married Eliza Bancroft and they were the parents of John Chandler Bancroft Davis and Horace Davis; he was also great-great grandfather of Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr.

Eliza Bancroft

Eliza Bancroft was the daughter of distinguished revolutionary soldier, leading Unitarian clergyman and author of a popular life of George Washington, Aaron Bancroft. Her brother George Bancroft was an American historian and statesman who was prominent in promoting secondary education both in his home state and at the national level.

John Davis (1787-1854) Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts 1834-1835, 1841-1843

A graduate of Yale in 1812, John Davis trained for the law and was admitted to the bar in 1815. He settled in Worcester and won election to the U.S. Congress on his first attempt, serving from 1825 to 1834.

He won a plurality in a three-way race with Marcus Morton and John Quincy Adams, where he was elected Governor by a vote of the Massachusetts Senate. Governor Davis won reelection but resigned in 1835, having won a seat on the Whig ticket in the U.S. Senate. Mr. Davis served his complete term in the Senate 1835-1841.

Mr. Davis was elected Governor again in 1840, beating Marcus Morton who unsuccessfully challenged him again in 1841. Morton received a plurality and victory in the state Senate, unseating Davis. In 1844, Mr. Davis, his nephew, and several friends founded the State Mutual Life Assurance Company of Worcester, one of only five life insurance companies in the 26 United States. The company was a success, and Governor Davis returned to serve in the U.S. Senate, 1845-1853.

US Congressional biography: DAVIS, John, (1787 - 1854) Senate Years of Service: 1835-1841; 1845-1853 Party: Anti-Jacksonian; Whig

DAVIS, John, (father of Horace Davis, great-great grandfather of Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr.), a Representative and a Senator from Massachusetts; born in Northboro, Mass., January 13, 1787; attended Leicester Academy, and graduated from Yale College in 1812; studied law; admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Worcester, Mass., in 1815; elected to the Nineteenth and to the four succeeding Congresses and served from March 4, 1825, to January 14, 1834, when he resigned, having been elected Governor; Governor of Massachusetts 1834-1835; elected as an Anti-Jacksonian (later Whig) to the United States Senate and served from March 4, 1835, to January 5, 1841, when he resigned; chairman, Committee on Commerce (Twenty-fourth Congress); Governor of Massachusetts 1841-1843; again elected in 1845 to the United States Senate, as a Whig, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Isaac C. Bates; reelected in 1847 and served from March 24, 1845, to March 3, 1853; declined to be a candidate for renomination in 1852, and retired from public life; died in Worcester, Mass., on April 19, 1854; interment in the Rural Cemetery. [1]

http://capecodhistory.us/genealogy/getperson.php?personID=I11346&tr...

Birth: Jan 13 1787 -Northborough, Worcester, Massachusetts

Death: Apr 19 1854 - Worcester, Worcester, Massachusetts

Parents: Isaac (Deacon) Davis, Anna Davis (born Brigham)

Siblings: Sarah Davis, Phineas Davis, Joseph Davis, Anna Davis, **isaac Davis, Sarah Breck Davis, Samuel Davis, Hannah Davis, Eliza Davis, Rebecca Davis

Wife: Elizabeth "Eliza" Davis (born Bancroft)

Children: John Chandler Bancroft Davis, George Henry Davis, Bruyn Hasbrouck (Brigadier-gen.) Davis, Horace Davis, Andrew Mc Farland Davis

Dolor Davis A Sketch of his life with a Record of his Earlier Descendants by Horace Davis Printed 1881 page 45 Item 7. last entry at the bottom of the page States John Davis born January 13, 1787; graduated at Yale, 1812; married March 28, 1822, Eliza, daughter of Rev. Aaron Bancroft, the rest of the entry is continued, on page 46 that I will load separately.

Dolor Davis A Sketch of his life with a Record of his Earlier Descendants by Horace Davis Printed 1881 page 46 Item 7. continues from page 45 States: " Eliza was born February 17, 1791; John lived in Worcester; was Governor of Massachusetts, and Representative and Senator in the Congress. John died April 19, 1854; Eliza died January 24, 1872; 5 children."

Systematic History Fund Vital Records of Northborough, Massachusetts, To the end of the year 1850. The largest part from the Copy made by Gilman B. Howe, Formerly Town Clerk. Worcester, Massachusetts: Published by Franklin P. Rice, 1901, Northborough Birth section Page 27, under the heading Davis, 6th Item up from the bottom of the heading Davis, States: "John Davis son of Isaac and Anna Davis born on Jan. 13, 1787."

http://www.findagrave.com is the website I got the following information from Find A Grave Memorial# 7504844

Birth: Jan. 13, 1787 Northborough Worcester County Massachusetts, USA

Death: Apr. 19, 1854 Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts, USA

US Congressman, US Senator, Massachusetts Governor. He was elected to represent Massachusetts' 5th District in the United States House of Representatives, serving from 1825 to 1834. He served as Governor of Massachusetts from 1834 to 1835, and 1841 to 1843, and was elected as a Senator from Massachusetts on the United States Senate, serving from 1835 to 1841, and 1845 to 1853.

Family links: Spouse: Eliza Bancroft Davis (1791 - 1872)*

Children:   John Chandler Bancroft Davis (1822 - 1907)*   Hasbrouck Davis (1827 - 1870)*   Horace Davis (1831 - 1916)*   Andrew McFarland Davis (1833 - 1920)*

Burial: Worcester Rural Cemetery, Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts, USA

Find A Grave Memorial# 7504844