Richard Hart Davis (8 June 1766 - 21 February 1842) was a British merchant and Tory politician who served as Member of Parliament for both Colchester and Bristol.[1]

Merchant career

Davis was a successful merchant in Bristol trading with the West Indies. In 1810, he was said to have made £200,000 by "getting possession of all the Spanish wool in the kingdom".[2] In 1803, he joined the Society of Merchant Venturers in Bristol.

Parliamentary career

Davis was elected to Parliament in the 1807 general election as the MP for Colchester taking the seat from Whig MP William Tufnell. He didn't speak during this period until he stepped down from his seat allowing his son, Hart Davis, to take the seat. He was elected as MP for Bristol for 15 days before Parliament was dissolved for the 1812 general election where he received a personal letter from then Prime Minister Lord Liverpool who wished him luck in his election against the Radicals.[2]

Political positions

Davis opposed Catholic relief.[2]

Personal life

Davis' son, Hart Davis, was also a Tory MP.

References

  1. ^ "Mr Richard Davis (Hansard)". api.parliament.uk. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  2. ^ a b c "DAVIS, Richard Hart (1766-1842), of Mortimer House, Clifton, Glos. | History of Parliament Online". www.historyofparliamentonline.org. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Colchester
1807 – 1812
With: Robert Thornton
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Bristol
1812 – 1831
With: Evan Baillie to 1812
Edward Protheroe 1812-1820
Henry Bright 1820-1830
James Evan Baillie from 1830
Succeeded by
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