New-York tribune., 1921-12-28
Admiral Davis.
NOtedScientist.
Dies, Aged 76
Broiher-in-Law of Lodge
Was Commander i'm Span.
ish War; Went to Ja-
maica in 1907 Disaster
Led BattIeship Squadron
Devoted Time to Writing
and Painting After His
Retirement Ia Years Ago

WASHINGTON, Dec. 27.-Rear Ad-
mlral Charles Henry Davis (retired)
lied at his home here to-day. He was
brother-in-law of Senator Lodge, was
noted for his scientific and artistic at
alnments and is remem bered for his
eilant action in the Spanish War and
at Jamaica, W. l., at the time of the
1907. -
He was born at Cambridge, Mass.
IN August 20, lS45. son of the late Rear
ADMIRAL Charles II. Davis, and was
graduated from Annapolis in 1854
Down to 1898 his services were Of
peaceful character, and were chiefly do
voted to scientific observations and in
vest1gatlons. He commanded several
expeditions to determine differences of
longltude by means of submarine tele-
graphic cables. and was the author of
two standard treatises on "Telcgraphic
Denomination Of Longitude' and
mCnronome etcr Rates as Affected bv
Temperature and Other Causes" His
scientific attainments led to his ap-
polntment IN 1897 AS supe rintendent of
the Naval Observatory.
Commanded the Dixie
From this work he was called in
1898 to command the auxiliary cruiser
DlXle IN the war with Spain, and it fell
TO MS lot to receive the surrender OF
the port of Ponce, Porto Rico. He was
put In command of the battleship Ala
pama IN 1902, and in 1904 was a divi-
SION commander Of the battleship
squadron. In 19O4-05 he was mem
Der of the information commission of
inquiry into the famous Dogger Bank
episode IN the Russo-Japane War, in
which the panic stricken Russian fleet
fired upon British fishing vessels. In
January 1907, he rushed his squadron.
consisting of the battleships Indiana
and Missouri and the gunboat Yankee
to the harbor of Kingston, Jamaica, to
give aid to the city, stricken with
earthquake and fire, and landed a num-
per of men for various humane duties.
but, to the astonishment of the world,
was curtiy repulsed and practically
ordered of by the British Governor
Alexander Swettenham In the Official
controversy which followed that dis
agreeable incident Admiral Davis was
cordially sustained in his course by
the President and the Secretary of the
Navy and by public sentim ent in Great
Britain as well is in the United States.
The British Foreign Secretary. Sir Ed
ward-n Lord-Grey. paid gener-
GUS tribute to the American command
er.
Retired in 1907
Admiral Davis rose through the vari-
Gus grades to that Of rear admiral in
1904, and was retired by operation of
law on August 2S, 1907 In 1893 he
was the official escort Of the Spanish
lnfanta, Eulalia. on her visit to this
country, in recognition of which the
Spanish government made him a Grand
Commander Of the Order of Isabella.
In 1899 he published an admirable bi-
ography OF his father. After his re-
tlrement from active service he de-
voted his attention chiefly to art, in
which he had long been proficient, and
produced number of greatly admired
marine paintings and water colors, of
which an exhibition was given at the
Corcoran Gallery in Washington. He
was never married. His sister Anna,
who survives him, was married in 1871
to Senator Henry Cabot Lodge.