Andrew McFarland Davis

Born in Worcester, Massachusetts, Andrew McFarland Davis was the son of Governor John Davis. He studied at Harvard's Lawrence Scientific School, served in the U.S. Navy, later worked with railroads, and was admitted to the bar before turning increasingly toward historical research and civic work.

He became known for editing and publishing important early American documents, especially material connected with colonial New England. His writings and editorial work helped scholars and general readers alike understand the political, social, and economic life of early Massachusetts.

Davis was also active in learned and public institutions in Boston, including historical and scientific circles. Remembered as a careful historian as well as a man of wide practical experience, he left behind work that supported the study of American history long after his death in 1920.