James C. Davis

James Curran Davis (May 17, 1895 – December 18, 1981) was an American lawyer, World War I veteran, and politician from the state of Georgia who served eight terms in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1947 to 1963. Davis unsuccessfully sought the presidential nomination at the 1956 Democratic National Convention.

James Curran Davis
Member of the
U.S. House of Representatives
from Georgia's 5th district
In office
January 3, 1947 – January 3, 1963
Preceded byHelen Douglas Mankin
Succeeded byCharles L. Weltner
Personal details
Born(1895-05-17)May 17, 1895
Franklin, Georgia, U.S.
DiedDecember 18, 1981(1981-12-18) (aged 86)
Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Resting placeOak Hill Cemetery
Newnan, Georgia, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
Mary Lou Martin
​
​
(m. 1932; died 1969)​
Children1
Alma materReinhardt College
Emory College
Military service
Branch/serviceUnited States Marine Corps
Years of service1917–1919
RankSergeant
Battles/warsWorld War I

Early life

Davis was born on May 17, 1895, in Franklin, Georgia to Viola (née Mooty) and Thomas Benjamin Davis.[1][2] He attended Reinhardt College in Waleska, Georgia and Emory College in Oxford, Georgia.[1][3] He was admitted to the bar in 1919 and started a practice in Atlanta.[1]

World War I and military

During World War I, Davis served in the United States Marine Corps as a private and sergeant from December 24, 1917, to January 11, 1919.[1] He then served in the Judge Advocate General's Corps as a first lieutenant and captain.[1][2]

Career

He resumed practicing law after his military service. He served as a state representative of DeKalb County from 1924 to 1928. He then served as an attorney for the Georgia Department of Industrial Relations from 1928 to 1931 and DeKalb County from 1931 to 1934.

He served as a judge of superior court in the Stone Mountain Judicial Circuit from 1934 to 1937.[1][3]

Congress

He was elected to represent Georgia's 5th congressional district in the House of Representatives as a Democrat. Davis served in Congress from January 3, 1947, to January 3, 1963.[1]

Davis was a delegate to the 1948 Democratic National Convention.

At the 1956 Democratic National Convention in August, he received 33 votes for President.[4] His nomination speech was given at the convention by Governor Marvin Griffin.[5]

Opposition to Civil Rights

Davis was a signatory to the 1956 Southern Manifesto, a document expressing the opposition of Southern congressional representatives to integration.[6] He voted against the Civil Rights Act of 1957.[7]

Later career

Davis was defeated in his bid for re-election to Congress in 1962 by Charles L. Weltner.[1][8] He then resumed practicing law. He was the publisher for the Atlanta Times, a conservative newspaper led by Roscoe Pickett, from June 1964 to its closing in September 1965.[1][3][9] He also served on the board of directors for the Salem Campground and De Kalb Federal Savings and Loan Association.[1]

Personal life

Davis married Mary Lou Martin on December 26, 1932, in LaGrange, Georgia.[10] She died in 1969.[11] Together, they had one daughter, Mary Martin Davis.[3][11][12]

He was a member of the Ku Klux Klan.[3][6]

Death

Davis died in Atlanta on December 18, 1981. He is interred at Oak Hill Cemetery in Newnan.[1]

References
  1. "DAVIS, James Curran (1895–1981)". bioguide.congress.gov. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
  2. Georgia's Official Register. Georgia Department of Archives and History. 1925. p. 49 – via Google Books.
  3. Rigsby, G.G. (December 29, 1981). "Former Rep. James C. Davis Dies". The Atlanta Constitution. p. 10. Retrieved August 17, 2021 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  4. "Georgia Stands By Davis to End, Denying Stevenson Its 32 Ballots". The Atlanta Constitution. August 17, 1956. p. 1. Retrieved August 17, 2021 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  5. 1956 Democratic Convention Nominating Speeches for James C. Davis and W. Averell Harriman. Retrieved August 17, 2021. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
  6. Lebreton, Edmond (September 29, 1956). "Says He Didn't Ask for Job Of Investigating Integration". Elmira Advertiser. p. 4. Retrieved August 17, 2021. open access
  7. "HR 6127. CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1957. -- House Vote #42 -- Jun 18, 1957". GovTrack.us. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
  8. Phillips, Cabell (September 28, 1962). "District of Columbia 'Mayor' Defeated in Georgia; Davis Is Beaten by Weltner in a Runoff for House Supreme Court Redistricting Decision a Big Factor". New York Times. p. 24. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
  9. "Atlanta Times Quits Publication". The Atlanta Constitution. September 1, 1965. p. 8. Retrieved August 17, 2021 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  10. "Miss Mary Lou Martin Weds James Curran Davis". The Atlanta Constitution. January 1, 1933. Retrieved August 17, 2021 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  11. "Mrs. J. C. Davis Dies". The Atlanta Constitution. November 24, 1969. p. 10-B. Retrieved August 17, 2021 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  12. "James C. Davis Papers" (PDF). dekalbhistory.org. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
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