John Davis (jurist)

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John Davis, American jurist (b. January 25, 1761, Plymouth, Massachusetts - d. January 14, 1847, Boston, Massachusetts), first received a private education, then attended and graduated from the University of Harvard (1777 - 1781).

He then studied law in Bridgewater, Massachusetts, was admitted to the bar in 1786, and began his private law practice in Plymouth. In 1788 he was selected as a delegate from Plymouth to the Massachusetts state convention, called to consider adoption of the Federal Constitution. He was elected and served three times in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, then in 1795 became state senator of Plymouth County.

Later that year he accepted President George Washington's request to serve as Comptroller of the Treasury of the United States, a position he resigned from in 1796 over matters of salary. Washington then appointed him United States Attorney for the district of Massachusetts.

Subsequently he moved permanently to Boston. From 1801-1841 he served as President John Adams' appointed judge of the United States district court for the district of Massachusetts. His probable most noted achievement was his wise handling of the law in reguards to commercial merchantile embarrassment of New England at the time of an embargo and the War of 1812 which instilled the community's confidence in the law.

In addition to his legal career, he pursued an interest in scientific phenomena and was deeply interested in New England history and antiquity. He served as president of the Massachusetts Historical Society (1818-1835) and was said to be the first person to the Plymouth colonists as pilgrims in his ode to an anniversary celebration in 1794. He was a Fellow of both the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and a Fellow (1803), treasurer (1810) and member of the board of overseers (1827-1836).