L(l)eyson Hopkin Davy (1782– 28 September 1872) was a decorated captain in the Honourable East India Company, political representative of the British government, brewer and early inventive industrialist. Captain Leyson Hopkin Davy - Puke Ariki Library Image

Early life and family

Davy was born in Cardiff, to Jonathan Davy and Mary Hopkins. Jonathan was a shopkeeper (grocer, hopfactor and wine merchant), and Mary was the niece of Richard Price of Tynton.

As a soldier with Honourable East India Company

India

Davy joined the East India Company as a cadet in 1799 and arrived in India as an ensign on 7 January 1801 (sailed on the Melville Castle). He served with distinction for the 22nd Native Infantry in India and was awarded the Army of India medal with rare clasps including those for the Battle of

Deig Deeg is a historical town and a municipality in Bharatpur district in the state of Rajasthan, India. It is situated north of Bharatpur and northwest of Agra. In Hindu mythology, Deeg was situated along the '' parikrama'' path of Krishna ...

and Capture of

. He was shot in the head during the Siege of Bhurtpore (1805), but survived the battle.

Time in Java

Following his service in India, Davy joined and actively participated as a Captain in the 4th Bengal Volunteer Battalion during the invasion of Java and overthrow of the Dutch occupiers. He had knowledge of the Malay/Javanese languagesRicklefs MC and Voorhoeve P (1977) Malay and Indonesian Manuscripts - Oxford University Press and worked at the request of Sir Samuel Gibbs (then a Colonel) as his SecretaryF. de Haan (1935) Personalia der periode van het Engelsch bestuur over Java 1811-1816, in: Bijdragen tot de taal-, land-en volkenkunde dl 92 p. 533-534 and also an interpreter and translator for Sir Stamford Raffles. Duties included being sent as part of an envoy to the Yogyakarta sultanate prior to the takeover of that city. Following the success of the British he was given the title of Acting Deputy Commissioner and served as Resident, Treasurer and Magistrate in Surabaya, Bangkalan (at the request of the Sultan of Madura whose friend he was) and Cirebon. He was notorious in Cirebon for levying a heavy land rent. Davy translated and donated documents from this period to the

Bodleian library The Bodleian Library () is the main research library of the University of Oxford, and is one of the oldest libraries in Europe. It derives its name from its founder, Sir Thomas Bodley. With over 13 million printed items, it is the second- ...

. He left Java in 1815.

Activities following his military career

Wales

Upon his retirement from the military, Davy returned to the UK and built a house near Bridgend named "Sarn Fawr" (whose estate the village of Sarn, Bridgend is now built on) and was involved in early development of railways in this area.

New Zealand

In 1841 Davy purchased land from the New Zealand Company and emigrated to

New Plymouth New Plymouth ( mi, Ngāmotu) is the major city of the Taranaki region on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is named after the English city of Plymouth, Devon from where the first English settlers to New Plymouth migrated. ...

, New Zealand. Whilst in New Plymouth, Davy established a farm called "Glenavon" (now a suburb of the town) and built several buildings including a retail store and the first brewery, malt house and public house in the township (the Ship Hotel). A beer brewed by Captain Davy known as "Davy's Stout" is mentioned in a "Song for Taranaki" written in 1844. Artifacts from the brewing enterprise, including some copper jugs, are retained in the Puke Ariki museum in New Plymouth. Davy then returned to the UK to attend to his daughters education, leaving his two eldest sons Charles and Edwin (both surveyors) to manage affairs in New Plymouth.

Devon

Upon returning to the UK, Captain Davy partnered with his son-in-law, W. Wilkins in building the Shipley Bridge naptha works and Zeal Tor Tramway (which used wooden rails). These Naptha works were the first of their kind in the United Kingdom and the venture was in some way tied in with an early town gas works at nearby Ashburton. A contract for delivering 500 tons of peat weekly to nearby smelting works in South Brent was also entered into Relicts of the tramway path can still be followed and now form part of a popular walk through Dartmoor National Park. Buildings from the peat charcoal works still exist and adjoin the Shipley Bridge car park.

Later life

Davy retired to Clifton, Bristol, close to his daughter Ellen and her husband Fr Alan Greenwell He died there on 28 September 1872.

Descendants

Captain Davy has several notable political and sporting descendants in New Zealand including

Edwin Davy Edwin "Ned" Davy (9 September 1850 – 22 May 1935) was a New Zealand rugby union player and soldier. A halfback, he was a member of the first national team that toured New South Wales in 1884. Youth and rugby career Edwin Davy was born ...

, Albert Davy and Florence Harsant.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Davy, Lleyson Hopkin 1782 births 1872 deaths