John Francis Davis
Encyclopedia
Sir John Francis Davis, 1st Baronet KCB
(Chinese Translated Name:
戴維斯 or the obsolete term 爹核士) (1795–1890) 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).
'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.
Im March, 1822 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society.
On 8 May 1844, he was appointed to be the governor of Hong Kong.
On 16 July 1844, his home was robbed.
During his tenure, Davis was very much hated amongst Hong Kong residents and British merchants during his administration because of the establishment of various taxes, which increased the burden of all citizens, and his abrasive treatment of his subordinates.
On a much lighter note, weekend racing began during his tenure, which gradually evolved as a Hong Kong institution.
Also, during his tenure, Davis organized the first Hong Kong Census
, and it indicated that at that time, there were 23,988 people living in Hong Kong.
On 21 March 1848, his row with the local British merchants increased, and Davis resigned his commission and left Hong Kong.
in Hong Kong were all named after him.
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
(Chinese Translated Name:
Chinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
戴維斯 or the obsolete term 爹核士) (1795–1890) was a British
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom during the period when what is now the Republic of Ireland formed a part of it....
diplomat, Sinologist, and the 2nd Governor of Hong Kong. He was the son of Samuel Davis and nephew to William Thomas Mercer
William Thomas Mercer
William Thomas Mercer was a British colonial administrator who served as the Colonial Treasurer , Auditor General , Colonial Secretary , and Administrator, between 15 March 1865 to 11 March 1866...
(later Colonial Secretary
Chief Secretary for Administration
The Chief Secretary for Administration , commonly known as Chief Secretary and abbreviated as CS, is the second highest position of the Hong Kong Government...
of Hong Kong).
Early career
John Davis was appointed writer in East India CompanyBritish East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
's factory at Canton
Guangzhou
Guangzhou , known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in southern China on the Pearl River, about north-northwest of Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port...
in 1813. Because of his linguistic abilities, he was chosen to accompany Lord Amherst
William Amherst, 1st Earl Amherst
William Pitt Amherst, 1st Earl Amherst, GCH, PC was a British diplomat and colonial administrator. He was Governor-General of India between 1823 and 1828.-Background and education:...
on his embassy to Peking
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
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
William Napier, 9th Lord Napier
William John Napier, 9th Lord Napier was a Royal Navy officer, politician and diplomat.- Early life :He was the son of Francis Napier, 8th Lord Napier and the father of Francis Napier, 10th Lord Napier and 1st Baron Ettrick . He served during the battle of Trafalgar as a midshipman...
in 1834.
Im March, 1822 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society.
Governor of Hong Kong
In 1844, Davis became British plenipotentiary and chief superintendent of British trade in China, and governor and commander-in-chief of the colony of Hong Kong, until 1848.On 8 May 1844, he was appointed to be the governor of Hong Kong.
On 16 July 1844, his home was robbed.
During his tenure, Davis was very much hated amongst Hong Kong residents and British merchants during his administration because of the establishment of various taxes, which increased the burden of all citizens, and his abrasive treatment of his subordinates.
On a much lighter note, weekend racing began during his tenure, which gradually evolved as a Hong Kong institution.
Also, during his tenure, Davis organized the first Hong Kong Census
Census in Hong Kong
Population census in Hong Kong , a collection of demographic data in Hong Kong, is conducted by Census and Statistics Department of Hong Kong Government. The census was held every ten years and by-census is held between two census...
, and it indicated that at that time, there were 23,988 people living in Hong Kong.
On 21 March 1848, his row with the local British merchants increased, and Davis resigned his commission and left Hong Kong.
Legacy
Mount Davis, as well as Mount Davis Path, Mount Davis Road, and Davis StreetDavis Street, Hong Kong
Davis Street is a street in Kennedy Town, on Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong. It was named after John Francis Davis, the second Governor of Hong Kong.-Location:...
in Hong Kong were all named after him.
Awards and honours
- BaronetBaronetA baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
, 1845 - Knight Commander of the Order of the BathOrder of the BathThe Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
, 1854 - Doctor of Civil Law, Oxford University, 1876
Works
- John Francis Davis, The Chinese: A General Description of the Empire of China and Its Inhabitants (London: Charles Knights, 1836). volume one; volume two
- China, during the war and since the peace