David was born in Allenstein (Olsztyn), Royal Prussia, Poland, to Gerhard Dönhoff.
After Giese received the Diocese of Warmia, David joined the ducal court of Albert, Duke of Prussia, in Königsberg (Królewiec) (today Kaliningrad) in 1549, taking his oath on 26 March 1550.
His son, Albert Frederick, however, continued the efforts, and instructed David to compile a history of Prussia.
This was also supported by various social classes, which believed that the Polish histories belittled Prussian achievements.
The chronicle ends with the events preceding the Battle of Grunwald (or Tannenberg) in 1410; other sources state that his works extend till 1475.