John Davies 1679-1732

John DAVIES 1679-1732

Biographical Note

Born in London, son of John Davies, merchant. BA Queens' College, Cambridge 1699, fellow 1701, MA 1702, LLD 1711. Rector of Fen Ditton, Cambridgeshire 1711, president of Queens' College 1717, vice-chancellor of the University 1726. He was a noted classical scholar and friend of Richard Bentley and published various editions of classical texts; his edition of Cicero's De officio was incomplete when he died and his notes were left to Richard Mead to finish the work. Mead gave them to Bentley but all the papers were lost in a fire.

Books

In his will, Davies directed that all his books be sold to create extra income for his wife, except for a three-volume folio set of Tillotson's Sermons, to be given to her, and editions of Galen and Hippocrates to be given to his cousin Richard Davies. His library was sold by retail sale in Cambridge, beginning 29 May 1732.

Sources

• Will of Richard Davies, The National Archives PROB 11/674/130.
• Alston, R. C., Inventory of sale catalogues ... 1676-1800, St Philip, 2010.
• A catalogue of the books ... of ... John Davies, [Cambridge, 1732].
• Cooper, Thompson, and S. J. Skedd. "Davies, John (1679–1732), college head." Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.