John Davies (New South Wales politician)
Australian politician (1839–1896) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
John Davies CMG (2 March 1839 – 23 May 1896), was a member of the Parliament of New South Wales.[1]
Davies was born in Sydney, the son of John Davies, of New South Wales.[2] In 1861 he married Miss Elisabeth Eaton.[2]
Starting in business as an ironmonger and general blacksmith, he commenced to take an active part in politics on the Liberal side as soon as he was of age. On 1 December 1874 he was elected an alderman for the City of Sydney,[3] serving as an alderman until 1882.[4] He was elected to the Legislative Assembly as one of four members for East Sydney at the election on 9 December 1874,[5] representing this seat until 1880.[1] He was Postmaster-General in the Robertson Government from August to December 1877.[1] Davies was acting British Commissioner at the Sydney International Exhibition in 1879, and was made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George in the following year,[6] when he was a Commissioner for New South Wales to the Melbourne International Exhibition; as also for the Amsterdam Exhibition in 1883, and the Colonial and Indian Exhibition in 1886. He was President of the Royal Commission on Friendly Societies.[7]
In 1880 Davies switched to the new district of South Sydney,[8] In 1882 he was defeated for South Sydney,[9] and then a week later was unsuccessful at Kiama.[10] He was returned as a member for South Sydney in 1885,[11] but was defeated again in 1887.[12] He was not well educated and acquired the nickname "Jannery",[13] on account of his inability to correctly spell January, under cross examination by Frederick Darley QC, during his slander case against John Harris.[14]
Davies was appointed to the Legislative Council in December 1887,[15] taking his seat in February 1888 and serving until his death on 23 May 1896(1896-05-23) (aged 57).[1]