Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Davison, Walter
DAVISON, WALTER (1581–1608?), poet, was the fourth and youngest son of William Davison [q. v.], secretary of state, and his wife Catharine, daughter of Francis Spelman. He was born in London on 17 Dec. 1581, and was a fellow-commoner of King's College, Cambridge, in 1596, but he left the university without taking a degree. About 1602 he was a soldier in the Low Countries. As he is not mentioned in his father's will, which bears date 18 Dec. 1608, it is probable that he was then dead.
He was the author of poems in the 'Poetical Rhapsody,' 1602, the poetical collection compiled by his brother Francis [q. v.] At the time these poems were composed he was under eighteen years of age.
[Nicolas's Memoir of William Davison, p. 226; Nicolas's Biographical Notices prefixed to his edition of the Poetical Rhapsody, p. lxi; Cooper's Athenæ Cantab, iii. 13; Lowndes's Bibl. Man. (Bohn). p. 602.]