John Francis Davis

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Sir John Francis Davis 1st Baronet KCB

2nd Governor of Hong Kong
In office 8 May 1844 – 21 March 1848
Preceded by	Sir Henry Pottinger
Succeeded by	Sir George Bonham
Personal details
Born	John Francis Davis (1795-07-16)16 July 1795 London, England, Great Britain
Died	13 November 1890(1890-11-13) (aged 95) United Kingdom
Nationality	British
Spouse(s)	Emily Hurnfravs
Relations	Samuel Davis (father), William Thomas Mercer (uncle)
Alma mater	Oxford University
Occupation	Politician

Sir John Francis Davis, 1st Baronet KCB (Chinese Translated Name: 戴維斯 or the obsolete term 爹核士) (16 July 1795 – 13 November 1890) was a British Diplomat, Sinologist, and the 2nd Governor of Hong Kong. He was the son of Samuel Davis and nephew to William Thomas Mercer (later Colonial Secretary of Hong Kong).

Early career

John Davis was appointed writer in East India Company's factory at Canton in 1813. Because of his linguistic abilities, he was chosen to accompany Lord Amherst on his embassy to Peking in 1816.

On the return of the mission, Davis again took up his duties in the factory at Canton, and was promoted to be president in 1832. He was appointed the joint commissioner in China with Lord Napier in 1834.

In March, 1822 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society.^[1]

Governor of Hong Kong

In 1844, Davis became British plenipotentiary and chief superintendent of British trade in China, as well as governor and commander-in-chief of the colony of Hong Kong, an office that he held until 1848. He was appointed governor of Hong Kong on 8 May 1844 only for his home to be robbed on 16 July 1844. During his tenure, Davis was much hated by Hong Kong residents and British merchants due to the imposition of various taxes, which increased the burden of all citizens, and his abrasive treatment of his subordinates. However, weekend racing began during his tenure, which gradually evolved into a Hong Kong institution. Davis also organized the first Hong Kong Census, and it indicated that at that time, there were 23,988 people living in Hong Kong.

Davis resigned his commission and left Hong Kong on 21 March 1848, after his disagreements with local British merchants escalated.

Death

He died on 13 November 1890 at the age of 95.

Legacy

Mount Davis, as well as Mount Davis Path, Mount Davis Road, and Davis Street in Hong Kong were all named after him. The Davis Street extends from the praya, New Praya, Kennedy Town, across Catchick Street, Hau Wo Street and Belcher's Street, to Forbes Street. Coordinates: 22°17′00″N 114°07′36″E / 22.28325°N 114.12670°E / 22.28325; 114.12670

Features of Davis Street

No. 1 Davis Street: Grand Fortune Mansion
No. 2 Davis Street: Davis Street Garden
No. 8 Davis Street: The Merton

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Davis Street, Hong Kong.

Awards and honours

Baronet, 1845
Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath, 1854
Doctor of Civil Law, Oxford University, 1876

Works

John Francis Davis. Chinese Novels, translated from the Originals, etc. (London: John Murray 1822).
Sir John Francis Davis (1824). A vocabulary, containing Chinese words and phrases peculiar to Canton and Macao, and to the trade of those places: together with the titles and addresses of all the officers of Government, Hong merchants, &c. &c. alphabetically arranged, and intended as an aid to correspondence and conversation .... printed at the Honorable Company's Press, by P.P. Thoms. p. 77. Retrieved 2011-07-06.
John Francis Davis, The Chinese: A General Description of the Empire of China and Its Inhabitants (London: Charles Knight, 1836). volume one; volume two
John Francis Davis, 'Sketches of China; partly during an inland journey of four months between Peking, Nanking, and Canton; with notices and observations relative to the present war.' Charles Knight & Co., Ludgate Street. London. 1841. In 2 volumes.
China, during the war and since the peace

References

↑ "Library and Archive Catalogue". Royal Society. Retrieved 26 November 2010.

Leigh Rayment's list of baronets

External links

Works by John Francis Davis at Project Gutenberg

Baronetage of the United Kingdom
Preceded by New creation	Baronet (of Hollywood) 1845–1890	Succeeded by Francis Boileau Davis

v t e Governor of Hong Kong

Pottinger Davis Bonham Bowring H. Robinson MacDonnell Kennedy Hennessy Bowen Des Vœux W. Robinson Blake Nathan Lugard May Stubbs Clementi Peel Caldecott Northcote Young Grantham Black Trench MacLehose Youde Wilson Patten

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Authority control	VIAF: 45166049 ISNI: 0000 0000 8124 0989 BNF: cb106007155

Persondata
Name	Davis, John Francis
Alternative names
Short description	British colonial administrator
Date of birth	16 July 1795
Place of birth	London, England, Great Britain
Date of death	13 November 1890
Place of death	United Kingdom

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