He studied botany and in 1843 began work at the Geology Department of the British Museum, first also in the field of mineralogy, later specialising in vertebrate palaeontology.
Excavating a large mammoth skull, Davies used the innovation of surrounding the fossil, in the field, with plaster of Paris, reinforced by iron bars.
[1] Davies was awarded the inaugural Murchison Medal from the Geological Society of London in 1873, and was made a fellow (FGS) in 1877.
Davies retired in 1887, and died at his home at Labdens, Colliers End, Hertford, on 13 February 1891.
[2] His son, Thomas Davies (1837–1892), became a mineralogist, editor of the Mineralogical Magazine, and like his father worked at the British Museum.