Born on July 22, 1860, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Davis joined the Navy from that city.
[2] By January 22, 1886, he was serving as a landsman on the receiving ship USS Dale.
On that day, while at Norfolk, Virginia, he jumped overboard from a ferry and rescued Ordinary Seaman John Norman from drowning.
Jumping overboard from the ferryboat, Davis rescued from drowning John Norman, ordinary seaman.
He died on June 19, 1903, at age 42 and was buried at Montrose Cemetery in Upper Darby Township, Pennsylvania.