Louis Henry Davies
Encyclopedia
Sir Louis Henry Davies, (May 4, 1845 – May 1, 1924) was a Prince Edward Island
(PEI) lawyer, businessman and politician, the third Premier
. He served as lead counsel for the Prince Edward Island Land Commission, which was established in 1875 to settle the problem of absentee land ownership and to provide tenants of the Island with clear title to their lands.
He was born in Charlottetown
, the son of Benjamin Davies
and Kezia Attwood Watts. He read law at the Inner Temple in London and later called to bar in England in 1866.
Davies was first elected to the House of Assembly
as a Liberal in 1872 just prior to PEI entering Canadian confederation
. With the issue of confederation resolved and the land question settled as a result of Canada's promise to fund land reform
and the passage of the Land Purchase Act
, the major issue remaining on the island was that of school funding and whether the school system should be entirely secular and public or whether separate school
s for Catholic
s should be permitted. The issue divided both parties, and had led to the collapse of one government.
Following the defeat of the Conservative government of Lemuel Cambridge Owen
in 1876, Davies established a coalition government
of Protestant Liberals and Conservatives with himself as Premier
and Attorney-General. The Davies government was formed to enact a Public Schools Act which made school attendance compulsory, and created a non-sectarian public school system. The act was passed in 1877 and, with the issue around which the coalition had been formed having been resolved, the coalition itself began to unravel. Davies' government reformed the civil service and brought in financial reforms before being defeated by the Conservatives in a Motion of No Confidence
in 1879.
Davies won a seat in the Canadian House of Commons
in the 1882 federal election
as a Liberal
. When the Liberals formed government after the 1896 election
under Sir Wilfrid Laurier
, Davies became minister of marine and fisheries. In 1901, he was appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada
. In 1918, he became Chief Justice
, and held that position until his death in Ottawa
in 1924.
Davies was named a Queen's Counsel
in 1880 and knighted by Queen Victoria
in 1897.
As of 2010, he is the only Prince Edward Islander to serve on the Supreme Court. The PEI Supreme Court building in Charlottetown is named in his honour. Also named for him is Davies Point, at the meeting of Hastings and Alice Arms on Observatory Inlet
in British Columbia
; the naming was done at the time of his appointment to the Supreme Court, as was also Davies Bay, at the head of Work Channel just east of Prince Rupert
.
, the Women's Canadian Historical Society, and similar organizations. The couple lived with their children at 236 Metcalfe Street, Ottawa, Ontario.
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population...
(PEI) lawyer, businessman and politician, the third Premier
Premier of Prince Edward Island
The Premier of Prince Edward Island is the first minister for the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island. They are the province's head of government and de facto chief executive.The current Premier of Prince Edward Island is Robert Ghiz.-See also:...
. He served as lead counsel for the Prince Edward Island Land Commission, which was established in 1875 to settle the problem of absentee land ownership and to provide tenants of the Island with clear title to their lands.
He was born in Charlottetown
Charlottetown
Charlottetown is a Canadian city. It is both the largest city on and the provincial capital of Prince Edward Island, and the county seat of Queens County. Named after Queen Charlotte, the wife of George III, Charlottetown was first incorporated as a town in 1855 and designated as a city in 1885...
, the son of Benjamin Davies
Benjamin Davies (politician)
Benjamin Davies was a merchant and political figure in Prince Edward Island. He represented 3rd Queens from 1850 to 1854 and 4th Queens from 1867 to 1876 in the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island as a Liberal member....
and Kezia Attwood Watts. He read law at the Inner Temple in London and later called to bar in England in 1866.
Davies was first elected to the House of Assembly
Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island
The Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island, along with the Lieutenant-Governor, forms the parliament of the province. The General Assembly meets at Province House, which is located at the intersection of Richmond and Great George Streets in Charlottetown....
as a Liberal in 1872 just prior to PEI entering Canadian confederation
Canadian Confederation
Canadian Confederation was the process by which the federal Dominion of Canada was formed on July 1, 1867. On that day, three British colonies were formed into four Canadian provinces...
. With the issue of confederation resolved and the land question settled as a result of Canada's promise to fund land reform
Land reform
[Image:Jakarta farmers protest23.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Farmers protesting for Land Reform in Indonesia]Land reform involves the changing of laws, regulations or customs regarding land ownership. Land reform may consist of a government-initiated or government-backed property redistribution,...
and the passage of the Land Purchase Act
Land Purchase Act (1875)
The Land Purchase Act, 1875 was a statute in Prince Edward Island, Canada passed by the General Assembly of Prince Edward Island in 1875...
, the major issue remaining on the island was that of school funding and whether the school system should be entirely secular and public or whether separate school
Separate school
In Canada, separate school refers to a particular type of school that has constitutional status in three provinces and statutory status in three territories...
s for Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
s should be permitted. The issue divided both parties, and had led to the collapse of one government.
Following the defeat of the Conservative government of Lemuel Cambridge Owen
Lemuel Cambridge Owen
Lemuel Cambridge Owen was a Prince Edward Island shipbuilder, banker, merchant and politician, the second Premier....
in 1876, Davies established a coalition government
Coalition government
A coalition government is a cabinet of a parliamentary government in which several political parties cooperate. The usual reason given for this arrangement is that no party on its own can achieve a majority in the parliament...
of Protestant Liberals and Conservatives with himself as Premier
Premier
Premier is a title for the head of government in some countries and states.-Examples by country:In many nations, "premier" is used interchangeably with "prime minister"...
and Attorney-General. The Davies government was formed to enact a Public Schools Act which made school attendance compulsory, and created a non-sectarian public school system. The act was passed in 1877 and, with the issue around which the coalition had been formed having been resolved, the coalition itself began to unravel. Davies' government reformed the civil service and brought in financial reforms before being defeated by the Conservatives in a Motion of No Confidence
Motion of no confidence
A motion of no confidence is a parliamentary motion whose passing would demonstrate to the head of state that the elected parliament no longer has confidence in the appointed government.-Overview:Typically, when a parliament passes a vote of no...
in 1879.
Davies won a seat in the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
in the 1882 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1882
The Canadian federal election of 1882 was held on June 20, 1882 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 5th Parliament of Canada.Prime Minister Sir John A...
as a Liberal
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
. When the Liberals formed government after the 1896 election
Canadian federal election, 1896
The Canadian federal election of 1896 was held on June 23, 1896 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 8th Parliament of Canada. Though the Conservative Party won a plurality of the popular vote, the Liberal Party, led by Wilfrid Laurier, won the majority of seats to form the...
under Sir Wilfrid Laurier
Wilfrid Laurier
Sir Wilfrid Laurier, GCMG, PC, KC, baptized Henri-Charles-Wilfrid Laurier was the seventh Prime Minister of Canada from 11 July 1896 to 6 October 1911....
, Davies became minister of marine and fisheries. In 1901, he was appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada
Supreme Court of Canada
The Supreme Court of Canada is the highest court of Canada and is the final court of appeals in the Canadian justice system. The court grants permission to between 40 and 75 litigants each year to appeal decisions rendered by provincial, territorial and federal appellate courts, and its decisions...
. In 1918, he became Chief Justice
Chief Justice
The Chief Justice in many countries is the name for the presiding member of a Supreme Court in Commonwealth or other countries with an Anglo-Saxon justice system based on English common law, such as the Supreme Court of Canada, the Constitutional Court of South Africa, the Court of Final Appeal of...
, and held that position until his death in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
in 1924.
Davies was named a Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
in 1880 and knighted by Queen Victoria
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
in 1897.
As of 2010, he is the only Prince Edward Islander to serve on the Supreme Court. The PEI Supreme Court building in Charlottetown is named in his honour. Also named for him is Davies Point, at the meeting of Hastings and Alice Arms on Observatory Inlet
Observatory Inlet
Observatory Inlet is an inlet on the North Coast of British Columbia. It is a northward extension of Portland Inlet, other sidewaters of which include the Portland Canal. The entrance of Observatory Inlet, from Portland Inlet, lies between Ramsden Point and Nass Point. Ramsden Point also marks, to...
in British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
; the naming was done at the time of his appointment to the Supreme Court, as was also Davies Bay, at the head of Work Channel just east of Prince Rupert
Prince Rupert, British Columbia
Prince Rupert is a port city in the province of British Columbia, Canada. It is the land, air, and water transportation hub of British Columbia's North Coast, and home to some 12,815 people .-History:...
.
Family
Sir Louis Henry Davies, married Lady Davies, a daughter of Dr. A. V. G. Wiggins in July, 1872. She was a member of the Humane SocietyHumane Society
A humane society may be a group that aims to stop human or animal suffering due to cruelty or other reasons, although in many countries, it is now used mostly for societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals...
, the Women's Canadian Historical Society, and similar organizations. The couple lived with their children at 236 Metcalfe Street, Ottawa, Ontario.