John Davis (Massachusetts governor)

John Davis
John Davis (taken in March 1849)
United States Senator from Massachusetts
In office March 4, 1835 – January 5, 1841 March 24, 1845 – March 3, 1853 Serving with Daniel Webster, Robert C. Winthrop, Robert Rantoul, Jr., Charles Sumner
Preceded by	Nathaniel Silsbee Isaac C. Bates
Succeeded by	Isaac C. Bates Edward Everett
14th & 17th Governor of Massachusetts
In office January 9, 1834 – March 1, 1835 January 7, 1841 – January 17, 1843
Lieutenant	Samuel Turell Armstrong George Hull
Preceded by	Levi Lincoln, Jr. Marcus Morton
Succeeded by	Samuel Turell Armstrong Acting Governo Marcus Morton
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts's 5th district
In office March 4, 1825 – January 14, 1834
Preceded by	Jonas Sibley
Succeeded by	Levi Lincoln, Jr.
Personal details
Born	January 13, 1787(1787-01-13) Northborough, Massachusetts
Died	April 19, 1854(1854-04-19) (aged 67) Worcester, Massachusetts
Resting place	Rural Cemetery
Nationality	American
Political party	Whig National Republican
Spouse(s)	Eliza Bancroft
Relations	John Davis (father), Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr. (great-great grandson)
Children	John Chandler Bancroft Davis, Horace Davis
Alma mater	Yale College
Profession	Law

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.

Career

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, and 1841 to 1843. 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.

See also

• Davis political family

External links

• John Davis at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• John Davis at Find a Grave