Verviers was captured by forces of the Sixth Coalition on 5 February 1814, as part of the campaign in north-east France. David was appointed by the coalition as a member of their "commission d'arrondissement" (council) for the area. The post-war Congress of Vienna, which concluded in 1815, stipulated that Belgium was to be incorporated into the new Kingdom of the Netherlands. Verviers was then governed by a Regency Council and David secured a seat on this body. In 1817 David closed the old church cemetery in the city and established a new cemetery on the outskirts. In 1830 Belgium began a revolution against Dutch rule. David, a supporter of the Belgian cause, was a member of the Commission of Public Safety. He was also a member of the National Congress; he was one of nine members who voted for the establishment of a Belgian republic and later voted for Belgium to be annexed to France. David was appointed the first "burgomaster" (mayor) of Verviers under the Kingdom of Belgium in 1830.