John Chandler Bancroft Davis, commonly known as Bancroft Davis (December 22, 1822–December 27, 1907) was an American lawyer and diplomat. He was also the ninth reporter of decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court, serving from 1883 to 1902.
John Chandler Bancroft Davis | |
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| 7th United States Assistant Secretary of State 9th United States Assistant Secretary of State 14th United States Assistant Secretary of State | |
| In office March 25, 1869 – November 13, 1871 January 24, 1873 – January 30, 1874 December 19, 1881 – July 7, 1882 | |
| Preceded by | Frederick W. Seward Charles Hale Robert R. Hitt |
| Succeeded by | Charles Hale John Cadwalader John Davis |
| 9th Supreme Court of the United States Reporter of Decisions | |
| In office 1883–1902 | |
| Preceded by | William Tod Otto |
| Succeeded by | Charles Henry Butler |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 22, 1822 Worcester, Massachusetts, USA |
| Died | December 27, 1907 Washington, DC, USA |
| Political party | Republican |
| Profession | Lawyer, Politician, Author |
Davis was born in Worcester, Massachusetts, the son of John Davis, a Whig governor of Massachusetts, and was the older brother of congressman Horace Davis. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Harvard University in 1847. In 1849, Davis became secretary of the American embassy in London and later its chargé d'affaires. He practiced law in New York City and was the correspondent for The Times in London. Because of ill health, he retired from the law in 1862, but in 1868 he was elected to the New York State Assembly. In 1874, he was appointed as the U.S. Minister to Germany, serving in that position until 1877.
Under President Ulysses S. Grant, he was Assistant Secretary of State in 1869-71 and again in 1873-74, after being secretary of the commission which concluded the Treaty of Washington in 1871 which produced the settling the Alabama claims. He was the United States at the Geneva Court of Arbitration which met at Geneva December 15, 1871. The American case was prepared by him.[1] He died in Washington, DC.
Works
- The Massachusetts Justice (1847)
- The Case of the United States Laid before the Tribunal of Arbitration at Geneva (1871)
- Treaties of the United States, with Notes (new edition, 1873)