John Wesley Davis

John W. Davis
Davis as painted by W.D. Murphy, 1911.
Indiana House Representative
In office
1831 – 1833
1841–1843
1851–1852
1857–1857
4th Governor of Oregon Territory
In office
May 14, 1853 – August 1, 1854
Appointed by Franklin Pierce
Preceded by George Law Curry
Succeeded by George Law Curry
Speaker of the Indiana House of Representatives
In office
December 3, 1832 – February 4, 1833
December 6, 1841 – January 31, 1842
December 1, 1851 – June 21, 1852
Preceded by Harbin H. Moore
Samuel Judah
Ebenezer Dumont
Succeeded by Nathan B. Palmer
Thomas Jefferson Henley
William Hayden English
3rd United States Commissioner to the Great Qing Empire
In office
January 3, 1848 – May 25, 1850
21st Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
In office
December 1, 1845 – March 4, 1847
President James K. Polk
Preceded by John W. Jones
Succeeded by Robert C. Winthrop
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Indiana's 6th district
In office
March 4, 1843 – March 3, 1847
Preceded by David Wallace
Succeeded by George G. Dunn
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Indiana's 2nd district
In office
March 4, 1835 – March 3, 1837
March 4, 1839 – March 3, 1841
Preceded by John Ewing
John Ewing
Succeeded by John Ewing
Richard W. Thompson
Indiana State court judge
In office
1829–1831
Personal details
Born John Wesley Davis
April 16, 1799(1799-04-16)
New Holland, Pennsylvania, USA
Died August 22, 1859(1859-08-22) (aged 60)
Carlisle, Indiana, USA
Resting place City Cemetery
Nationality American
Political party Democratic
Other political
affiliations
Jacksonian
Alma mater UMB
Occupation Doctor
Profession Medical
Committees Committee on Public Lands

John Wesley Davis (April 16, 1799 – August 22, 1859) was a doctor and a prominent U.S. politician during the 1840s.

Contents

Early life and education

Davis was born in New Holland, Pennsylvania, on April 16, 1799, and later moved to Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, with his parents.[1][2] Davis graduated from Baltimore Medical College in 1821, then moved to Carlisle, Indiana, in 1823 and practiced medicine there.[2] He married Ann Hoover on November 19, 1820.

Political career

State politics

Davis started his political career as an unsuccessful candidate for the Indiana Senate in 1828. He instead became a state court judge in Indiana from 1829 to 1831. He was elected a member of the Indiana House of Representatives for 1831–1833, 1841–43, 1851–52, and in 1857.[1] He was Speaker of the Indiana House in 1832–33, 1841–42, 1851–52.[1]

National politics

He served as a U.S. Representative from Indiana in the 24th, 26th, 28th and 29th Congresses and was Speaker of the U.S. House in the 29th Congress.[1] From 1848 to 1850 he was U.S. Diplomatic Commissioner to China.[1] In 1852 he was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention from Indiana.[1]

Governorship

Davis was appointed to the office of Governor of the Oregon Territory in 1853 by President Franklin Pierce. His appointment was not welcomed by Oregonians, however, and he left office just over a year later, with the position returning to his predecessor, Acting Governor George Law Curry. Pierce later appointed Curry to the position officially.

Death

Davis died in Carlisle, Indiana on August 22, 1859.[1] He was buried at City Cemetery in Carlisle.[1]

References

External links