A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Davis, Henry (c)
DAVIS. (Lieut., 1815. f-p., 10; h-p., 32.)
Henry Davis (c) was born, 28 Oct. 1789, at Cobham, co. Surrey.
This officer entered the Navy, 23 Sept. 1805, as Ordinary, on board the Nassau 64, Capt. Robt. Campbell, fitting at Woolwich. From 27 Feb. 1806, to 7 Nov. 1808, he next served, a great part of the time as Midshipman, in the Phosphorus fire-brig, of 4 12-pounder carronades and 24 men, Lieut.Commanders Wm. Jas. Hughes and Robt. Danl. Lancaster; and, on 14 Aug. in the former year, he assisted in the peculiarly gallant defeat of a French privateer, carrying 12 guns and upwards of 70 men, which sheered off after an action of 70 minutes, 45 of which were spent in an ineffectual attempt to board the British vessel. For his conduct on the occasion Lieut. Hughes, who with 7 others was wounded, received his promotion. In Aug. 1809, having removed to the Challenger 16, Capts. Wm. Bamham Rider and Goddard Blennerhassett, Mr. Davis accompanied the expedition to the Walcheren, subsequently to which, on her return from the West Indies, whither she had gone with convoy, the Challenger was captured by a French frigate and armed store-ship, after a running fight of four hours, 12 March, 1811. Between 28 May, 1814, the period of his liberation, and July, 1815, Mr. Davis was afterwards employed, as a Supernumerary, in the Prince 98, Capt. Geo. Fowke, lying at Spithead, and, as Master’s Mate, in the Amphion 32, Capts. Jas. Pattison Stewart and John Brett Purvis (under the former of whom he again went to the West Indies with convoy), and in the Ganymede 24, Capt. Wm. M‘Culloch, fitting at Portsmouth. He then received a commission dated 24 Feb. 1815, and has not been since employed.
Lieut. Davis married, 7 Aug. 1815, Miss Mary Lloyd, by whom he has issue three children. Agents – Messrs. Ommanney.