Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 03.djvu/167

 DAVIE

DAVIE

held the office of U.S. consul in Hakodate, Japan, and was profe.ssor of English and mathematics in Too Giguku college, Hirosaki, Japan. He was presiding elder of the Hakodate district, 1878-82, and of Yokohama district, 1882-84. In 1884 he returned to the United States, and was pastor of the First church, Plymouth, Ind., 1885-87. In the latter year he again went to Japan, returning however in 1888 to become pastor of a church at Verona, N.Y. He afterward held charges at Clinton, N.Y., 1889-91; at Herkimer, N.Y., 1891- 96; and at Trinity, Oswego, N.Y., from 1897. While pastor in Herkimer he was professor of comparative religion in Folt's mission institute. He published a short Old Testament History (Japanese) for use by Japanese preachers. He was married in 1876 to Mary C. McDaniel, who died in 1884; and in 1886 he was married to Helen Marr Oakes.

DAVIE, William Richardson, statesman, was born in Egremont, near Whitehaven, England, June 20, 1756 ; son of Archibald Davie. He was brought to America in 1763 by his father and placed in the care of his maternal uncle, the Rev. William Richardson, a mem- ber of the Waxhaw settlement on the Catawba river in South Carolina, who made him heir to his estate. He was pre- pared for college at Queen's museum, Charlotte, N.C., and ,^ ,^. graduated at the Col-

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/^,<:y<:^^^;^^-<-_.. with the first honors on his return from Washington's army in the fall of 1776. He then went to Salisbury, N.C., where he studied law^ and in 1777 he joined a detachment of volun- teers raised by General Jones to defend Charles- ton. In 1779 he was made lieutenant of a troop of cavalry. Davie was promoted captain and major, and on June 20, 1779, took part in the battle of Stono River, where he was severely wounded. Being unfitted for further service he was licensed to practise law in the courts of the Holston River circuit, North Carolina, and made a temporary settlement at Salisbury, but soon rejoined the patriot army in defending the state against the Tories and the invasion of Tarleton's troops and commanded the cavalry of the western district of North Carolina. In 1780 he was appointed by General Greene commissary-gen- eral of the southern army, and upon the approach of Cornwallis to the up-country of South Carolina

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he mounted and equipped, under the authoritj- of the legislature of North Carolma, but at his own expense, a body of cavalry, procuring the money by selling his estate. In conjunction with Maj. Joseph Graham he operated against the invading army, checking and harassing the troops and ren- dering the position taken by Cornwallis at Charlotte, N.C., for a time untenable, and not until appealed to by the commanding general did Tarleton's legion return to the on.set, finally forcing Davie to retreat to Winsboro. He con* tinned his guerilla warfare against the British with great skill and dash and gained the cogno- men, "the hero of Charlotte." He assisted Rutherford at Ramson's Mills and fought valiantly at Hanging Rock, at Flat Rock and at Wahub's plantation. He was at the battle of Gilford and accompanied General Greene into South Carolina, being present at Hobkirk's Hill, at the evacuation of Camden and at the siege of Ninety-Six. In 1781 he became commissary gen- eral of the state of North Carolina and held the position till the close of the war. He returned to the practice of his profession in February, 1783, and about this time was married to Sarah, daugh^ ter of Gen. Allen Jones of Northampton and set- tled in Halifax, then practically the capital of North Carolina. He was a member of the con- vention that framed the Constitution of tlie United States and his influence secured i.s adoption by North Carolina. He was the found tr of the Warrenton academy and of the University of North Carolina. Of the latter institution he procured the act of incorporation in 1789, laid its corner-stone, drew up the act for its establish- ment and contributed liberally to its support, continuing his interest in the institution up to the time of his death. In 1794 he was commis- sioned major-general of North Carolina militia ; was a member of the house of commons of the state eight years, between 1786 and 1798 ; and in 1798 was appointed by President Adams brigadier- general in the regular army. He was elected governor of North Carolina in 1798 and resigned in 1799 upon his ai^pointment by President Adams with Oliver Ellsworth and William V. Murray on a special embassy to the French gov- ernment, and they secured the treaty between the United States and France, Sept. 30, 1800. In 1802 he was appointed by President Jefferson to treat with the Tuscorora Indians, and in 1803 he was an unsuccessful candidate for representative in the 8th congress. The same year his wife died and he then returned to his plantation at Tivoli, near Landsford, S.C. He declined promotion offered by President Madison in 1813 to the rank of major-general, U.S.A., on account of failing health, and Gen. W. H. Harri.son was appointed in his stead. The following year he resigned from