George R. Davis (Illinois politician)

{{for|the Speaker of the New York State Assembly|George R. Davis (New York politician)}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific-prefix =

| name = George R. Davis

| honorific-suffix =

| image = Portrait of George Royal Davis (1840–1899) from The Biographical Dictionary and Portrait Gallery of Representative Men.png

| state = Illinois

| district = 3rd

| term_start = March 4, 1883

| term_end = March 3, 1885

| preceded = Charles B. Farwell

| succeeded = James H. Ward

| state2 = Illinois

| district2 = 2nd

| term_start2 = March 4, 1879

| term_end2 = March 3, 1883

| preceded2 = Carter Harrison III

| succeeded2 = John F. Finerty

| birth_date = {{birth date|1840|1|3}}

| birth_place = Palmer, Massachusetts, US

| death_date = {{death date and age|1899|11|25|1840|1|3}}

| death_place = Chicago, Illinois, US

| restingplace = Rosehill Cemetery, Chicago

| restingplacecoordinates =

| birth_name = George Royal Davis

| party = Republican

| otherparty =

| spouse = {{Marriage|Gertrude Schulin|July 25, 1867}}

| relations =

| children =

| alma_mater = Williston Seminary

| occupation = Director General, financial agent, Senior Colonel, treasurer

| profession = Business, law

| cabinet =

| committees =

| portfolio =

| signature = Signature of George Royal Davis (1840–1899).png

| footnotes =

| nickname =

| allegiance = United States

| branch = Union Army
Illinois National Guard

| serviceyears = 1862–1865
18??-18??

| rank = Colonel

| unit = 8th Massachusetts Militia
2nd Massachusetts Heavy Artillery

| commands = 3rd Rhode Island Cavalry
1st Regiment, Illinois National Guard

| battles = American Civil War

| awards =

}}

George Royal Davis (January 3, 1840 – November 25, 1899) was a U.S. Representative from Illinois.

Early life and education

George R. Davis was born in Palmer, Massachusetts on January 3, 1840.{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y8wsAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA437 |title=A History of the City of Chicago: Its Men and Institutions |publisher=Chicago Inter Ocean |pages=437–438 |year=1900 |access-date=2021-11-23 |via=Google Books}} He completed classical studies at Williston Seminary, Easthampton, Massachusetts, and was graduated in 1860. Afterwards he studied law.

He married Gertrude Schulin on July 25, 1867.

Civil War military service

Davis entered the Union Army in July 1862 and served as captain in the Eighth Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, and as major in the Third Regiment, Rhode Island Volunteer Cavalry.

Career

=Early career=

Following the war Davis engaged in manufacturing, the insurance business, and as financial agent at Chicago, Illinois.

=Military career=

Davis later served as member of the State militia and senior colonel of the First Regiment, Illinois National Guard.

=Political career=

Davis was elected as a Republican to the 46th, 47th, and 48th Congresses (March 4, 1879 – March 4, 1885). He was not a candidate for renomination in 1884.

=Business career=

Davis chose to end his political career and resume his former business pursuits. He served as treasurer of Cook County, Illinois from 1886 to 1890. He served as director general of the World's Columbian Exposition at Chicago in 1893.

Death

Davis died at his home in Chicago on November 25, 1899, and was interred in Rosehill Cemetery.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/43095081/colonel_davis_claimed_by_death/ |title=Colonel Davis Claimed By Death |work=The San Francisco Call |page=3 |date=1899-11-26 |access-date=2020-01-27 |via=Newspapers.com}}