|
John Davis, a lawyer and politician, was elected to membership in
the
American Antiquarian Society in 1821. Ten years later he became
the Society's
vice-president and soon after, he became the president. Born in
Northborough,
Massachusetts, Davis graduated from Yale College in 1812, and was
admitted
to the bar three years later. In 1822 he married Eliza Bancroft
(1787-1854),
the daughter of Worcester's Unitarian minister Aaron Bancroft.
Davis established
his law practice in Worcester and began his political career as a
Federalist.
He was elected governor of Massachusetts in 1824. Over the next
twenty-five
years Davis, who was conservative in his political views, ran
successfully
for seats in the United States Congress and Senate.(1)
Davis was connected politically and socially to such prominent
American
Whigs as Daniel Webster and Edward Everett. He corresponded
regularly
with such politicians and his letters, speeches, and personal
papers are
part of the Society's manuscript collection.(2) Although he was
mainly
involved in national politics, Davis remained closely connected to
Worcester.
He was president of the State Mutual Life Insurance Company of
Worcester
and also of the Worcester County Auxiliary Bible Society.
Davis retired from public service around 1850. His obituary in
the Proceedings
of the American Antiquarian Society stated, 'He surveyed the whole
map
of statesmanship, and was satisfied to leave no part of it
unexplored.
The principles of international law, of diplomatic intercourse, of
constitutional
law,...our systems of finance and public domain, our foreign and
domestic
relations, the great questions of peace and war, of international
duties
and international rights; - all these and many more, he made his
study.'
The obituary closed with a summary of Davis's contributions to the
Society,
noting, 'As [the Society's] friend and constant benefactor, he
bestowed
upon it many and valuable favors; and as its President, he
conferred upon
it honor and devoted to it the last services of his life.'(3)
The artist Edwin Billings lived and worked in Boston and
Dorchester.
Around 1853, he was hired by Leicester (Massachusetts) Academy to
copy
the Society's portrait of Isaiah Thomas, Sr., by Ethan Allen
Greenwood.
In November 1854, Billings was commissioned by the Society to
paint this
portrait of John Davis, who had recently died. He was paid fifty
dollars,
and his work was well received. 'This portrait is satisfactory to
the
Council; and has been commended for its execution and faithful
resemblance
by those who have seen it. In justice to the artist and as a proof
of
his skill, it should be mentioned that he never saw Governor Davis
on
more than one occasion, and he was obliged to rely on
Daguerreotypes and
other likenesses... .'(4)
|
|
1) For a summary of Davis's career, see Thomas Kinnicutt,
'John
Davis,' Proceedings of the American Antiquarian Society (April
1854):
11-27.
2) John Davis Papers, 1812-1902, American Antiquarian
Society
Manuscript Collection.
3) Kinnicutt, 'John Davis,' 19, 26.
4) Proceedings of the American Antiquarian Society
(October 1854):
11. According to an 1890 list entitled 'Public Buildings where Mr.
Billings'
Paintings are Hanging,' (American Antiquarian Society Newsclipping
file),
Billings went on to paint several living members of the Society
including
Stephen Salisbury and Isaac Davis.
|
