Fred Henry Davis

Davis was born on May 18, 1894 in Greenville, South Carolina, though he settled in Tallahassee, Florida with his family at an early age. He was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1914 and became a practicing attorney in Wakulla County, Florida.[2]

In 1917, Davis enlisted in the Florida Army National Guard, serving as a private with the 124th Infantry during World War I, though he did not go overseas with the American Expeditionary Force. On December 10, 1918, Davis was discharged from the United States Army and was sent to Camp Hancock, near Augusta, Georgia, in order to begin his officers' training.[3]

Davis quickly worked his way up the ranks, becoming a lieutenant in the Army Reserve Corps and eventually being promoted to the rank of major.[4] Davis commanded Company M of the 124th Infantry, which, in 1924, was designated as the Governor's Guards, a historic infantry unit dating back to the Third Seminole War. Davis retired from the military in 1927.[3][5]

In 1917, Davis, a Democrat, became the Special Assistant United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, though he would resign that year in order to enlist in the Florida Army National Guard. After his return to Florida from Camp Hancock in 1919, Davis was appointed as the Prosecuting Attorney for Leon County, Florida by Governor Sidney Johnson Catts.[6]

In 1920, Davis was elected to the Florida House of Representatives, representing Leon County. After his reelection in 1922, 1924, and 1926, Davis was selected Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives in 1927. He would only serve for a few months, however, as he was appointed the 24th Florida Attorney General on June 4, 1927 by Governor John W. Martin, finishing the term of J. B. Johnson, who had been appointed to a state circuit court. Davis was elected to a full term in 1928.[1][7]

Davis also served as the special counsel for the Florida Railroad Commission 1925 until his appointment as Florida Attorney General in 1927.[6]

On March 9, 1931, Governor Doyle E. Carlton appointed Davis to the Supreme Court of Florida.[8] Davis was selected as Chief Justice on January 10, 1933, serving in that role until January 8, 1935. He continued to serve on the bench until his death in 1937.[9]

On June 20, 1937, Davis died of a sudden heart attack while on a visit to Jacksonville, Florida. He is buried in Tallahassee's Old City Cemetery.[10]

In 1921, Davis married Frances M. Chambers. They had two daughters Marilyn and Hazel D.[10]

Davis was a practicing Methodist. He was a member of many veterans' organizations, including the American Legion, the Military Order of the World Wars, the Reserve Officers Association, and the Sons of Confederate Veterans. Additionally, Davis was also a member of several fraternal orders, namely the Freemasons, the Knights Templar, the Shriners, Elks, Lions, Odd Fellows, and Phi Alpha Delta.[2]