A highly regarded orator and courtroom advocate, he practiced in the state and federal courts of Vermont, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire, and was frequently called upon to give speeches at political gatherings and other meetings.

After relocating from Wilmington to Brattleboro, Davenport continued to practice law while also becoming active in banking, railroads, and ownership of a farm in Guilford.

[1] He was raised and educated in Leyden and attended Shelburne Falls Academy in Massachusetts and Melrose Seminary in West Brattleboro, Vermont.

[1] Davenport was also interested in other business ventures; in 1874 he was elected to the board of directors of Vermont National Bank, Brattleboro.

[7] The Reformer was published for several years with editions covering Windham County, Brattleboro, Bennington, Vermont, and Greenfield, Massachusetts.

[9] In January 1882, ill health compelled Davenport to retire from legal business, and he sold his practice to James Loren Martin.

[1] Davenport was active in the Democratic Party throughout his career, even as Vermont's opposition to slavery led it to exclusively support first the Whigs, and later the Republicans in statewide elections.

[11] In October 1855, Davenport was the Democratic Party's candidate for Secretary of State of Vermont, and lost the legislative election to Charles W.

[18] In July 1863, he was chosen as the Democratic nominee to represent Vermont's 2nd congressional district, but the general election was won by Republican incumbent Justin S.

[19][20] In July 1864, the state Democratic convention chose Davenport as the party's nominee for Lieutenant governor of Vermont, and he lost the general election to incumbent Republican Paul Dillingham.

[29][30][31] In the 1872 United States presidential election, most Democrats supported Horace Greeley, the nominee of the short-lived Liberal Republican Party.

[35] Despite his dissatisfaction with the national and state parties, in August he agreed to deliver the keynote address to the Windham County Democratic convention.

[41][42] In 1878, Davenport and others dissatisfied with stand and national Republican and Democratic leadership, including Abraham B. Gardner, attempted to form an independent movement to field candidates for the state legislature and other offices.

[46] After selling his law practice, Davenport purchased an interest in a Brattleboro lumber business and sawmill, intending to regain his health through outdoor physical activity.

[47] The business was successful and his physical condition temporarily improved, but it took a subsequent turn for the worse, and he died in Brattleboro on April 12, 1882.

[49] The portrait and plaque are often recalled by Vermont Democrats who acknowledge Davenport as an important party leader during part of the more than 100 years when the state was controlled entirely by Republicans.