Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 2).djvu/113

Rh DAVILA, Pedro Franco, Spanish-American naturalist, b. in Guayaquil in 1718 ; d. in 1785. He went to Paris in 1748, and there formed an extensive cabinet of natural history. In 1767 this cabinet was sold for 800,000 reals. In 17G9 he went to Madrid, and was chosen perpetual director of the cabinet of natural history, which, under his management, be- came one of the finest in Europe. He belonged to the Royal society of Madrid, the Royal society of London, and the Royal society of Berlin. The catalogue of his cabinet is held in high estimation.

DAVILA Y PAUILLA, Agustin, Mexican his- torian, b. in the city of Mexico in 1562 ; d. in 1604. He was a Dominican lecturer on philosophy and theology in the colleges of Puebla and Mexico, and became archbishop of Santo Domingo in 1601. He visited Rome and Spain to represent the Dominicans of Mexico, and was appointed preacher of the king, Philip III. lie left several works, including " His- toria de la Proviiicia de Santiago de Mejieo de la orden de Predicadores " (Madrid, 1590), and " Ilis- toria de las antiguedades de los indios," in ]\IS.

DAVION, Antony, clergyman, b. in Issigny, Normandy ; d. in New Orleans in 1727. He was educated in the seminary of the Foreign missions, Paris, and after his ordination embarked for Que- bec in 1690. He was appointed pastor of a church in Quebec, and continued a year in this place. In the early part of 1700 he went to the Mississippi, and in July reached Biloxi. He then labored among the Tonica tribe, but after a time was com- pelled to take refuge in a French fort. In 1704 the Tonicas sent deputies to Mobile, where he was stationed, begging him to come back to them, and he returned. He was allowed to preach without interruption, but, finding them deaf to his appeals, he destroyed their temple and quenched their sa- cred fires. He was at once compelled to fly from the village ; but the Tonicas had become very much attached to him, and invited him to return again. He made few converts among them, al- though he persuaded the chief to be baptized in 1716 and to wear European costume. On leaving the Tonicas he went to New Orleans.

DAVIS, Andrew Jackson, spiritualist, b. in Orange county, N. Y., 11 Aug., 1826. His youth was passed in hard labor, and with little educa- tion, owing to the extreme poverty of his parents. In 1848 Mr. Levington, of Poughkeepsie. is said to have developed in him extraordinary clairvoyant powers. Although quite uninstructed, it was said that he was able to discourse fluently upon medical, psychological, and general subjects. On 7 March, 1844, he fell into a trance, which lasted sixteen hours, during which time he asserts he con- versed with spiritual beings and received instruc- tions as to his future teaching from the interior state. In November, 1845, while clairvoyant, he dictated to the Rev. William Fishbough,"in New York, his fii-st work, " The Principles of Nature, her Divine Revelations, and a Voice to Mankind."' This book presents a wide range of subjects, and rejects any especial authority in the teachings of the Bible. Mr. Davis has been moi-e successful as a writer than as a lecturer, and has been princi- pally instrumental in promoting the movement of " Spiritualism." The philosophical and theological portions of his remaining works are regarded as little more than repetitions of his first book, inter- spersed with startling assertions concerning things in heaven and earth which admit of no verifica- tion. These works are " The Great Harmonia " (6 vols.. New York, 1850-'61) ; " Philosophy of Spiritual Intercourse" (1851); "The Present Age and Inner Life," a sequel (1854 ; 2d ed., Boston, 1870); "The Approaching Crisis," a review of Dr. Bushnell on Spiritualism (New York, 1852) : " The Penetralia " (Boston, 1856) ; " The Magic Staff " an autobiography (New York, 1857) ; " The Harbinger of Health " (1862) ; "Appetites and Passions" (Boston, 1863); "The World's True Redeemer" (1863): "Principles of Nature" (2d ed., 1863); "Morning Lectures" (1865); "Tale of a Physi- cian " (1867) ; " Stellar Key to the Summer Land " (1867); "Arabula, or the Divine Guest" (1867); "Memoranda of Persons Places, and Events" (1868); "The Fountain, with New Jets of Mean- ing" (1870); and "Mental Diseases and Disorders of the Brain " (New York, 1871).

DAVIS, Asabel, antiquary, b. in Massachusetts in 1791. He published an address on " The Dis- covery of America by the Northmen " (1840), and " Ancient America and Researches of the East " (New York, 1847).

DAVIS, Benjamin Franklin, soldier, b. in Alabama in 1832 ; d. at Beverly Ford, Va., 9 June, 1863. He was graduated at the U. S. military academy in 1854, and distinguished himself in both the infantry and cavalry service in New Mexico. In 1862 he became colonel of the 8th New York cavalry. He was instantly killed while command- ing a brigade at Beverly Ford, Va.

DAVIS, Caroline E., author, b. in Northwood, N. H., in 1831. Her maiden name was Kelly, and under that name she first gained reputation. She resided in Exeter, N. H., until her marriage in 1867, when she removed to Andover, Mass. She has written a large number of books for Sunday- school libraries, founded on her experience as teach- er in a mission-school. Her works include " The Child's Bible Stories " (4 vols.) ; " Little Sermon Talks " ; " No Cross, No Crown " ; and many other attractive books for children.

DAVIS, Charles, lawyer, b. in Mansfield, Conn., 1 Jan., 1789; d. in Vermont in 1868. His ances- tors were Puritans, who had emigrated from Eng- land early in the 17th century and settled in Mans- field, where his father resided until 1792, when he removed to Rockingham, Vt. He was graduated at Middlebury in 1811, studied law under Daniel Chipman, of Middlebury, and in 1814 was ad- mitted to the bar. During his residence there he became engaged in the exciting political subjects connected with the war of 1812-'5, and for some years edited the " Vermont Mirror," which opposed that war. He always advocated the duty of de- fending the country, however, arid often served in the militia. In 1816 Judge Davis removed to Bar- ton, Orleans co.. and in 1818 to Waterbury, Conn. He settled in Danville in 1828, and was elected state's attorney for the county of Caledonia, which office he held seven vears, and was re-elected in 1838. In 1841-5 he was U. S. district attorney of Vermont, and in 1845 was elected judge of probate for the district of Caledonia, and re-elected in 1846. A bill was passed in that year for the election of an additional judge of the supreme court, and the place was offered to him. His opinions were pub- lished in the 19th and 20th volumes of the " Ver- mont Reports." He was chosen to be a representa- tive in the state legislature, althovigh the majority of the town were opposed to the whig party, of which he was a member.

DAVIS, Charles Augustus, merchant, b. in New York in 1795; d. there, 27 Jan., 1867. For many years he was in the iron trade with Sidney Brooks, and in a letter to Halleck, written from Athens, he says: "I do not know how I can go back to business and pig iron in John street." He was well versed in commercial and financial affairs, and