Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 03.djvu/188

 DAViS

DAVIS

practise of law in 18G2, underwent a course of medical treatment and in 18G3 settled on a farm in Orange county, N. Y. He was a member of the state assembly from Orange county in 1869. On the '-ioth of March of that year he was ap- pointed by Presiilent Grant assistant secretary of sUite, and while holding that office served also in 1871 as American secretary to the joint high commission that made the treat)' of Wasliington. He resigned in November. 1871, at the request of Secretary Fisli, to accept the position of Ameri- can agent before the tribunal of arbitration at Geneva. He prepared the case for the United States for submission to that tribunal. On Jan. 24, 1873, he was reappointed assistant secretary of state and was selected as arbitrator between Great Britain and Portugal for the settlement of a dispute. In July, 1874, President Grant ap- pointed him U.S. minister to the German empire and after his return at the close of Grant's ad- ministration he was made U.S. judge of the court of claims by President Hayes, serving from December, 1877, to December, 1881, when Presi- dent Arthur appointed him assistant secretary of state. This position he resigned upon being reappointed to the bench of the court of claims in December, 1882, and on Nov. 5, 1883, be re- signed to accept the position of reporter of the decisions of the U.S. supreme court. He re- ceived from Columbia the honorary degree of LL.D. in 1887. He is the author of: The Massa- chusetts Justice (1847); The Case of the United States Laid Before the Tribunal of Arbitration at Geneva (1871); Treaties of the United States, icith Notes (rev. ed., 1873); and vols. 108-170 of United States lieports; and of the additional notes in Mr. Justice Miller's Lectures on the Constitution. He classified and arranged neglected matter of historical interest in the clerk's office of the U.S. supreme court and in the Centennial Ap- pendix in Vol. 131, and also historical data relating to the judicial functions of the govern- ment prior to the adoption of the Federal con- stitution.

DAVIS, John G., representative, was born in Fleming county, Ky., Oct. 10, 1810. He lived on a farm with his i)arents and attended the dis- trict school during the winter months. He removed to Rockville, Ind., was sheriff of Parke county, 1830-31; clerk of the superior and inferior courts of the county, 183:^51, and Avas a repre- sentative from Indiana in the 32d, 33d, 3;jth and 36th congresses. 1851-55, 1857-61. He died in Terre Haute. Ind., Jan. 18, 18G6.

DAVIS, John Lee, naval officer, was born in Carlisle, Ind.. Sept. 3. 1825. He entered the U.S. naval service in 1841, as mid.shipman, and was promoted passed midshipman, Aug. 10, 1847. He was on blockade duty off the Mexican ports.

1845-46, acting lieutenant on the Prehle of the East Indian squadron, and in November, 1849, distinguished himself by manning a boat with sixteen men from the Preble and capturing a Cliinese junk off Macao, while engaged in a piratical exploit. He was commissioned master, Sept. 14, 1855; lieutenant, Sept. 15. 1855. and was attached to the Gulf squadi-on at the outbreak of the civil war as executive officer of the Water Witch. With this vessel he successfully engaged the Confederate rain JIanassas and the squadron near Pilot Town, Oct. 12, 1861. He declined the command of the Water Witch in favor of his senior officer, was made lieutenant-conmiander, July 16, 1862, and was with Du Pont's fleet in the attack on Fort McAllister Nov. 19, 1862. He suc- cessfully repaired the damage made by a solid shot piercing the iron clad Montauk below the water mark, and again engaged the fort, Jan. 27-Feb. 1, 1863, and with the Montauk destroyed the Confederate privateer Xashmlle, Feb. 28, 1863. He then was transferred with Du Ponfs fleet to Charleston and on March 19 sank the blockade runner Gcor/jiana, as that steamer undertook to enter the harbor. He next commanded the Montauk and with that vessel engaged Forts Sum- ter, Gregg, Moultrie and Battery Bee in Septem- ber, 1863, and Fort Sumter, Nov. 5-10 and Fort Moultrie, Nov. 16, 1863. He was transferred to the command of the Sassaciis of the North At- lantic squadron and was delegated to tow Butler's powder ship Louisiana from Norfolk to Fort Fisher, N.C., with the design of destroying the fort by explosion. He engaged in the unsuccessful attack of Dec. 24-25, 1864, and in the reduction and capture of the fort, Jan. 13-14, 1865. He was also engaged in the capture of Fort Ander- son on Cape Fear River, N.C., Feb. 18, and of Fort Strong, N.C., Feb. 20-21. 1865. He was commis- sioned commander, July 25, 1866; captain, Feb. 14, 1873, and commander, Feb. 4, 1882. He was on the lighthouse boax'd, 1876; commanded the flagship Trenton of the European squadron for three years, and was on the board of inspection, 1882. He commanded the Asiatic squadron, 1883-86, receiving his commission as rear-admiral, Oct. 30, 1885; and was retired in November, 1886. He died in Wasliington, D.C., March 12. 1889.

DAVIS, John Merrill, educator, was born in Ilarrisonville, Ohio, Nov. 16, 1846; son of Wil- liam and Samantlia (Chase) Davis; and grand- son of Jacob and Nancy (Hedrick) Davis, and of Tliomas Jefferson and Rebecca (Romine) Chase. He served in 1863 in the transportation department of the Union army in West Virginia and Ohio and in 1865 for seven months as pri- vate in the 188th Ohio volunteers. He was graduated at Ohio university in 1873. He was principal of the preparatory department, Oliio