Vernon M. Davis
Encyclopedia
Vernon Mansfield Davis was an American lawyer and politician from New York
.
He graduated from City College
in 1876, and remained there as Assistant Professor of Greek, Mathematics and Logic until 1882. At the same time he studied law, graduated from Columbia Law School
, and was admitted to the bar in 1879. He commenced practice working for the law firm of McDaniel, Wheeler & Souther. In October 1881, he opened his own law firm: Davis, Cohen & McWilliam.
In January 1885, Davis was appointed by D.A. Randolph B. Martine
a Deputy Assistant New York County District Attorney
. In January 1888, D.A. John R. Fellows
appointed Davis an Assistant D.A., and he remained in office under De Lancey Nicoll
and during Fellows's second term. After Fellows's death on December 7, 1896, Davis was appointed Acting D.A. by the Court of General Sessions, pending the filling of the vacancy by Gov. Levi P. Morton
. On December 19, Gov. Morton appointed Alderman William M.K. Olcott
as D.A., and Davis resumed his post as Asst. D.A. until his resignation in April 1897.
On January 1, 1901, Davis succeeded Elbridge T. Gerry
as President of the New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, but resigned this post after his election to the Supreme Court.
In November 1902, Davis was elected a justice of the New York Supreme Court
(1st D.), and remained on the bench until the end of 1925 when he reached the constitutional age limit.
He died from pneumonia
at his home at 6, East 94th Street in NYC.
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
Life
He was the son of Robert Vernon Davis and Mary (Samler) Davis (ca. 1837-1912).He graduated from City College
City College of New York
The City College of the City University of New York is a senior college of the City University of New York , in New York City. It is also the oldest of the City University's twenty-three institutions of higher learning...
in 1876, and remained there as Assistant Professor of Greek, Mathematics and Logic until 1882. At the same time he studied law, graduated from Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School, founded in 1858, is one of the oldest and most prestigious law schools in the United States. A member of the Ivy League, Columbia Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Columbia University in New York City. It offers the J.D., LL.M., and J.S.D. degrees in...
, and was admitted to the bar in 1879. He commenced practice working for the law firm of McDaniel, Wheeler & Souther. In October 1881, he opened his own law firm: Davis, Cohen & McWilliam.
In January 1885, Davis was appointed by D.A. Randolph B. Martine
Randolph B. Martine
Randolph Brant Martine was an American lawyer and politician from New York.-Life:He was the son of Theodore Martine, a grocer and realtor, descended from French Huguenot immigrants...
a Deputy Assistant New York County District Attorney
New York County District Attorney
The New York County District Attorney is the elected district attorney for New York County , New York. The office is responsible for the prosecution of violations of New York state laws....
. In January 1888, D.A. John R. Fellows
John R. Fellows
John R. Fellows was an American lawyer and politician from Arkansas and New York.-Life:...
appointed Davis an Assistant D.A., and he remained in office under De Lancey Nicoll
De Lancey Nicoll
De Lancey Nicoll was a New York County District Attorney.-Life:...
and during Fellows's second term. After Fellows's death on December 7, 1896, Davis was appointed Acting D.A. by the Court of General Sessions, pending the filling of the vacancy by Gov. Levi P. Morton
Levi P. Morton
Levi Parsons Morton was a Representative from New York and the 22nd Vice President of the United States . He also later served as the 31st Governor of New York.-Biography:...
. On December 19, Gov. Morton appointed Alderman William M.K. Olcott
William M.K. Olcott
William Morrow Knox Olcott was an American lawyer and politician from New York City.-Biography:He was born on August 27, 1862 New York City to John N. Olcott and Euphemia Helen Knox, and J. Van Vechten Olcott was his brother. He graduated from City College in 1881, and from Columbia Law School in...
as D.A., and Davis resumed his post as Asst. D.A. until his resignation in April 1897.
On January 1, 1901, Davis succeeded Elbridge T. Gerry
Elbridge Thomas Gerry
Elbridge Thomas Gerry was an American reformer.-Biography:In 1860 he was admitted to the New York State Bar Association. He became an adviser to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals...
as President of the New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, but resigned this post after his election to the Supreme Court.
In November 1902, Davis was elected a justice of the New York Supreme Court
New York Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of the State of New York is the trial-level court of general jurisdiction in thestate court system of New York, United States. There is a supreme court in each of New York State's 62 counties, although some smaller counties share judges with neighboring counties...
(1st D.), and remained on the bench until the end of 1925 when he reached the constitutional age limit.
He died from pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
at his home at 6, East 94th Street in NYC.
Sources
- THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S AIDS in NYT on December 31, 1884
- MR. NICOLL'S ASSISTANTS in NYT on January 1, 1891
- OLCOTT TAKES HIS OFFICE in NYT on December 20, 1896
- PRESENT TO LAWYER DAVIS in NYT on April 25, 1897
- VERNON M. DAVIS TAKES CHARGE in NYT on January 2, 1901
- REACTION AGAINST MUCKRAKING, SAYS JUDGE V.M. DAVIS article written by Davis, in NYT on April 30, 1911, with short bio and sketch portrait
- Death notice of his mother, in NYT on March 29, 1912
- EX-JUSTICE DAVIS DIES OF PNEUMONIA in NYT on April 18, 1931 (subscription required)