Edward Henry Meggs Davis

Admiral Edward Henry Meggs Davis, C.M.G., O.B.E., J.P., Royal Navy, Retired (18 August, 1846 – 6 October, 1929) was an officer of the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

As a Sub-Lieutenant, Davis served in the screw frigate Doris from 13 November, 1867 and then in the ironclad warship Ocean. Davis was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 4 April, 1870.

Davis was specially promoted to the rank of Commander, for services at the Cape of Good Hope, with seniority of 14 August, 1878.

After just over two weeks in command of Daring, Davis transferred to the turret ship Wivern on 19 March, 1885. This was deemed a temporary command, and Davis apparently went back to Daring soon thereafter. Davis was promoted to the rank of Captain on 1 January, 1887. On 8 March, 1887 he took passage home by mail steamer and went on half pay as he took Torpedo and Gunnery courses.

Davis impressed Amiral Dowell in 1885 as being a good photographer.

On 6 August, 1889, Davis was informed that "in view of small number of marks obtained at R. N. Coll. exam, he cannot have taken due advantage of the opportunities of study." On 30 August, 1889, however, Commodore Markham reported that Davis had "carried on arduous work during the manoeuvres with energy & ability."

In 1892, Davis hoisted the British flag in thirteen islands of the Gilbert Group and in 1894 received the C.M.G. "for services connected with certain islands in the Western Pacific."

He was appointed in command of the battleship Royal Sovereign on 8 June, 1897.

In August and September 1897 the Admiralty told Davis that his interview with a newspaper correspondent on the subject of Naval Discipline was not suitable and that his explanation of the matter was not considered "by any means satisfactory." Davis was to exercise greater discretion in such matters in future.

Davis was appointed in command of the second class battleship Howe on 19 March, 1898.

Davis was appointed to H.M.S. Urgent on 13 January, 1900 as Commodore, Second Class in Charge, Jamaica. In August, he became a member of the Legislative Council of Jamaica.

He was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 13 March, 1901, vice Pearson and superseded in Jamaica on 22 March. He returned to Bristol and transferred Jamaican command to Commodore Daniel McN. Riddel on 2 May, 1901.

Davis was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral on 8 June, 1905, vice Brackenbury, and, in accordance with the provisions of the Order in Council of 8 December, 1903, he was placed on the Retired List, at his own request, on 26 June.

Davis's name was added to a list of Nautical Assessors in the House of Lords on 23 February, 1906 and was advanced to the rank of Admiral on the Retired List on 5 November, 1908.

On 4 July, 1910, Davis returned from leave to Australia.

Having been re-appointed as a Nautical Assessor several times, Davis resigned his post on 31 January, 1929. He died later that year after a fall from a bedroom window he had been trying to repair. An inquest the following day determined that death was accidental.

Bibliography

• "Admiral E. H. M. Davis" (Obituaries). The Times. Monday, 7 October, 1929. Issue 45327, col B, p. 16.

Service Records

• The National Archives. ADM 196/86.
• The National Archives. ADM 196/38.
• The National Archives. ADM 196/17.

Naval Appointments
Preceded by Francis J. J. Eliott	Captain of H.M.S. Daring 3 Mar, 1885 – c. early 1887	Succeeded by Arthur H. Boldero
Preceded by ?	Captain of H.M.S. Medusa 18 Jul, 1889	Succeeded by Andrew K. Bickford
Preceded by George W. Hand	Captain of H.M.S. Royalist 6 Oct, 1889 – 8 May, 1893	Succeeded by James E. C. Goodrich
Preceded by Wollaston C. Karslake	Captain of H.M.S. Colossus 5 Mar, 1894 – 6 Mar, 1897	Succeeded by Samuel A. Johnson
Preceded by Harry T. Grenfell	Captain of H.M.S. Royal Sovereign 8 Jun, 1897 – c. mid 1897	Succeeded by Michael P. O'Callaghan
Preceded by Harry T. Grenfell	Captain of H.M.S. Trafalgar c. mid 1897 – 12 Oct, 1897	Succeeded by Andrew K. Bickford
Preceded by Frederick R. Boardman	Captain of H.M.S. Howe 19 Mar, 1898 – 19 Jan, 1900	Succeeded by Henry L. Fleet
Preceded by William H. Henderson	Commodore-in-Charge, Jamaica 1900 – May, 1901	Succeeded by Daniel McN. Riddel