Davies, Samuel, a Presbyterian minister, presi- it of the College of New Jersey, was bom near mmit Ridge, Newcastle County, Del., Nor. 8, 1728. t was educated at Fogg's Manor School, where he npleted his theological studies also, and was li- Dsed July 80, 1746. He was ordained as an evan- list in 1747, undertook a mission to Hanover County, i., and on his arrival obtained a license Arom the Bneral Court to officiate at four different places of irship. In 1748 he accepted a call to Hanover, and, iving received an extension of his license, he divided 8 labors between five counties with great success, e subsequently claimed the privilege of the Act of oleration for Virginia, and received a letter ** under ithority** in England confirmatory of his views. In JbB he went to England in behalf of the College of iew Jersey, and returned to Virginia in 1756, when ie Presbytery of Hanover was founded, chiefly through is instrumentality. In 1759 he became president of «ew Jersey College, and removed to Princeton, where le died Feb. 4, 17^. It is deserving of record that in a iscourse on the occasion of Braddock's defeat he made he following prophetic remark of Washington: **I nay point out to the public that heroic youth, colonel ^'ashington, whom I cannot but hope Providence has iltherto preserved in so signal a manner ybr jome im- portant service to his comUrg," **In the pulpit he fTMs at once instructive and persuasive, full of light, ind power, and love ; and his manner of delivery was worthy of his fine thoughts, splendid diction, and lieeply evangelical spirit." His sermons, which are Btrikhigly eloquent, have been often reprinted; the latest editions are those of Albert Barnes, with a life of the author (New York, 1851, 8 vols. 8vo), and that ^ the Presbyterian Board, with memoir by Dr, ^pngne (Phila. 8 vols. 8vo).— Sprague, Annals, iii, 140.
Bavls, Charles A., a Methodist Episcopal mini». ter, was bora Oct. 7, 1802, and was admitted on trial ^r the Baltimore Conference in 1824. During his itinerant life he filled many important af^intments. He was statfoned three times hi Baltimore. He served •I«o hi Philadelphia, Washington, New York, Mont- gJTOeiy Circuit, Md., Alexandria, D. C, Annapolis, Md., and twice in Whiohester, Va. In May, 1882, he WIS one of the secretaries of the General Conferenoe RtHssesAmm Philadelphia. For several years he
was deik in one of the departments of the general government in Washington, where he was received into the Virginia Conference of the Methodist Episco- pal Church South, and filled an appointment In Rich- mond, and also in Portsmouth, Va. 'While in Ports- mouth he received the appointment of rlmpmi^ in the navy. When the civil war broke out he remained true to his country, and the Virginia Conference of the M. K Church South expelled him by resolution. He united with the Virginia and North Carolina Con- ference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He died in charge of the Norfolk Naval Hospital, Feb. 20, 1867. —Dr. J. S. Mitchell, in Christ, Advocate and Journal.
Davis, John, a Methodist Episcopal minister, was bom in Northumberland Coun^, Va., Oct. 80, 1787, was converted at 19, entered the itinerancy of the Bal- timore Conference in 1810, and died in Hillsborough, Va., Aug. 18, 1858. Mr. Davis was a very important and useftil minister for more than forty years. As soon as he was converted he began to exhort and preach publicly, and with great effect, even before he had become a member of the Church, and on a circuit in 1818 about one thousand souls were converted by his preaching. In person he was commanding, and his voice was excellent. His mind was well balanced and robust, and his social qualities fine. As a minis- ter and presiding elder he had few equals, and be was always a leader in the councils of the Church. He was an able agent and trustee of Dickinson College, and a member of every General Conference, save two, from 1816 to the time of his death. — Afimttes of Con- fertnoes, v, 829.
Davis, Noah, a Baptist minister, was bom near Salisbury, Worcester County, Mass., July 28, 1802. After receiving a commercial education, he was li- censed to preach July 9, 1820. After a brief ministry in Accomac, he became pastor of the Baptist church in Norfolk, Va. Having by his energy succeeded in pro- curing the formation of the Baptist General Tract So- ciety in Washington, Feb. 25, 1824, he was, upon his removal soon after to Philadelphia, invited to the management of its concerns. This office he accepted, and filled with great usefulness until his death, July 18, 1880.— Sprague, Annals, vi, 701.
Davison, Johit, B.D., fellow of Oriel College, Oxford, was bom at Morpeth in 1777, and matricula^ ted at Christ Church, Oxford, in 1794. He became vicar of Sutterton, Lincolnshire, in 1817, and after- wards rector of Washington; then prebendary of Worcester and rector of Upton-upon-Sevem in 1826. He died in 1884. His Discourses on Prophecy are val- uable for their practical tendency as well as critical research. They are contained in his Remains and Oc* casional Publications (Oxf. 1840, 8vo).— Darlmg, Cyclo- podia BibUogr<q)hicaj i, 877.
Dawes, Sir William, D.D., archbishop of Tork, was bom at Lyons, near Braintree, in 1671. He was educated at St. John's College, Oxford, and Catharine Hall, Camlnridge ; became master of Catharine Hall in 1696, bishop of Chester in 1707, and finally arch- bishop of Tork hi 1714. He died in 1724. He had a lively imagination, a strong memory, and a sound jud^ent. He was one of the most popular preach- ers of his day. Among his writings are The Anatomy qf Atheism (1698, 4to) :— Ditties o/the Closet, etc. (1707, 8vo), etc. A coUectipn of his works was published (Lond. 1788, 8 vols. 8vo), with a pre£eu^ giving some account of Ids life and character. — Dariing, Cyclopadia BOMpgrapkiea, i, 870 ; Bid^rapkia Britanmoa, v, 15.