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Name: DAVIS, Alexander
Nee: bro of Ralph Davis
Birth Date: 1861 Poplar, London
Death Date: 15 Oct 1945 Nairobi
First Date: 1908 after a literary career in Rhodesia
Profession: Initially Editor and principal proprietor of 'The Leader'. An amateur artist and sculptor, prolific writer to the press, well known author, and one time owner of the Nakuru Hotel, in all his activities he was ably helped by his wife Mabel
Area: Nairobi, Nakuru, 1930 Box 67, Nairobi
Married: 1. Arabella Selig b. 1869 Manchester, d. 1907 Paddington; 2. In Nairobi 16 Feb 1909 Mabel Lavinia Hunt b. 1891, d. 1968 London (arrived EA 1909)
Children: 1. Cecil David (1897-1951); Edwin Casral (8.8.1904 London-1982) 2. Sidney Alexander (24 July 1910 Nairobi-1931 Singapore); Mary Lavinia (24 Apr 1913 Nairobi-1913); Ralph William (7 Sep 1914 Nairobi-17 Jan 1942 killed in action in the NFD); Joan Marjorie (Bagehot) (1917-2006); Peter George (30 Dec 1923 Nairobi-Oct 2001 Paphos, Cyprus); Ronald; John (3 Jan 1921 Nairobi)
Author: 'The Native Problem in South Africa'
Book Reference: Gillett, SE, HBEA, KAD, Red 25, Red 31, Hut, Curtis, Playne, Drumkey, Red 22, Land, Advertiser, Gazette, Bur, Leader14, Red Book 1912, Red 19, Barnes
School: privately England and Germany
General Information:
SE - A. Davis - April 1909
HBEA 1912 has A. Davis as Hon. Treasurer of Nairobi Chamber of Commerce
KAD 1922 - Committee - EA and Uganda Natural History Society
Red 25 - Member, Kenya Land Settlement Advisory Board; Proprietor, Nakuru Hotel
Red 25 - Managing Director, Caxton P & P Co. Ltd., Director EA Standard Ltd and Mombasa Times Ltd. - Pioneer, Swaziland, Rhodesia and other parts of South Africa
Curtis - p. 84 - 'The Govt. Experimental Farm, Naivasha' - in partnership with J.K. Hill in maize crop which was a disaster!
Playne - 'The Leader' - founded on the remains of the fallen 'Star', was the project of Mr Thomas Raynes, a prominent citizen of the Nairobi community, who acquired the whole of the essential stock and machinery of the defunct journal. The first intention of that gentleman was to send to England for a capable editor; but at the psychological moment he was informed of the arrival at Mombasa of Mr Alexander Davis, an experienced South African journalist and the editor-in-chief of the 'African Review' of London. A correspondence ensued, resulting in the engagement of Mr Davis as managing editor. Mr Davis brought out the first number of the 'Leader' on May 23, 1908, and the journal instantly enjoyed public favour. The enterprise was formed into a company, under the title of the Caxton Printing and Publishing Company Ltd., with Mr Thomas Raynes as managing director; Messrs Stephen Ellis, Dr. Hannigan, D. Cooper, and H. Howitt, directors; and Mr S.C. Fischat, secretary. Later Mr A. Raynes joined the firm as business manager. The 'Leader' was absorbed into the E. A. Standard in 1923.
Red 22 - Committee Member, Nairobi Political Association
Land - 1910 - Alexander Davis - Building and agricultural, 10 acres - Near Nairobi - 2/5/10 - Leasehold under Occupation Licence for 2 to 99 years from 1/8/10 - Registered 9/9/10
Land - 1910 - Alexander Davis - 9 acres - Near Nairobi - 2/5/10 - Leasehold under Occupation Licence for 2 to 99 years from 1/8/10 - Registered 9/9/10
Land - 1911 - A. Davis - Agricultural, 10 acres - Katisura - 9/6/11 - Leasehold for 99 years from 1/1/11 - Registered 11/12/11
Advertiser - 4/6/1909 - Illness of Mrs Davis, wife of the Editor of the 'Leader' has taken a serious turn, meningitis having set in.
Gazette - 7/4/15 - Liable for Jury service, Nairobi District - Alexander Davies [sic], Leader Office
Nairobi City Park Burial Register - Alexander Davis, age 85, died 15/10/45
Nairobi South cemetery - Molly Davis - beloved child of Alexander & Mabel Davis, died 3 Dec 1913, aged 8 months, "twas not to be"
Red Book 1912 - A. Davis - Nairobi
Red Book 1912 - Committee Member - Nairobi Colonists' Association
Gazette - 12/11/1919 - Register of Voters - Nairobi, North Area - Alexander Davis - Editor, Muthaiga
Red Book 1919 - Editor - The Leader - Nairobi - A. Davis
Gazette 16 Nov 1936 Voters List 1936 Alexander Davis, Editor, Muthaiga and Mrs Mabel Davis, Married woman, Muthaiga
1911 England Census, Willesden
Arthur Conan Doyle, Our African Winter, 1929 I met at Nairobi Mr. Alexander Davis, who is not only a very energetic local citizen who has a share in every enterprise from the local theatre to model farming, but is known honourably in a larger world as the author of A Layman's Philosophy and other books. He is at present in the "When you are dead you are dead" phase of mental development, so that we had much high argument. He took me out to see his grain fields, which are now nearly ripe, but in imminent danger from the locusts, which are so numerous this year that some native districts are threatened with famine, and the Governor has had to forbid the exportation of food-stuffs. The wheat is of a special type called Kenya Governor, and is remarkable for its hardy growth and its immunity from rust. It is only within the last few years that the Colony has become self-supporting in this matter, but now it has hopes of exporting. It exports maize already in considerable quantities, and Mr. Davis was sending 250 tons over to the London market.
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