John Davis (U.S. district court judge)

John Davis (January 25, 1761 – January 14, 1847) was a delegate to the Massachusetts convention to ratify the United States Constitution, Comptroller for the United States Department of the Treasury, United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts and a United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts.

John Davis
Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts
In office February 20, 1801 – July 10, 1841
Appointed by	John Adams
Preceded by	John Lowell
Succeeded by	Peleg Sprague
United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts
In office 1796–1801
Appointed by	George Washington
Preceded by	Harrison Gray Otis
Succeeded by	George Blake
Personal details
Born	John Davis January 25, 1761 Plymouth, Province of Massachusetts Bay, British America
Died	January 25, 1847 (aged 86) Boston, Massachusetts
Education	Harvard University read law

Education and career

Born on January 25, 1761, in Plymouth, Province of Massachusetts Bay, British America, Davis graduated from Harvard University in 1781 and read law in 1786. He was a delegate to the Massachusetts convention to ratify the United States Constitution in 1788. He was a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. He was a member of the Massachusetts Senate in 1795. He was Comptroller for the United States Department of the Treasury from 1795 to 1796. He was the United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts from 1796 to 1801.[1]

Federal judicial service

Davis was nominated by President John Adams on February 18, 1801, to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts vacated by Judge John Lowell. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on February 20, 1801, and received his commission the same day. His service terminated on July 10, 1841, due to his resignation.[1]

Death

Davis died on January 14, 1847, in Boston, Massachusetts.[1]

Memberships

Davis was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1792,[2] Davis was also elected a member of the American Antiquarian Society in 1813.[3]

See also

• Davis political family

References

1. John Davis at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
2. "Book of Members, 1780–2010: Chapter D" (PDF). American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Retrieved August 7, 2014.
3. American Antiquarian Society Members Directory

Sources

• Johnson, Allen & Malone, Dumas (ed.'s). Dictionary of American Biography. vol. III. Charles Scribner's Sons, New York, N.Y. 1959.
• John Davis at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.