Peter Weimer Davison (May 15, 1869 – February 12, 1920) was an American brigadier general during

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

Early life and education

Peter Davison was born on his family's farm near

Waupun, Wisconsin Waupun is a city in Dodge and Fond du Lac counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 11,344 at the 2020 census. Of this, 7,795 were in Dodge County, and 3,549 were in Fond du Lac County. In Fond du Lac County, the Town of Waup ...

on May 15, 1869. He attended the

United States Military Academy The United States Military Academy (USMA), commonly known as West Point, is a United States service academies, United States service academy in West Point, New York that educates cadets for service as Officer_(armed_forces)#United_States, comm ...

(USMA), graduating 45th with the class of 1892.Marquis Who's Who, Inc. ''Who Was Who in American History, the Military''. Chicago: Marquis Who's Who, 1975. P. 128 During his time at the USMA, he helped found and played on the academy's football team. His classmates included numerous men who would later rise to the rank of brigadier general or higher, such as

Charles Pelot Summerall General (United States), General Charles Pelot Summerall (March 4, 1867 – May 14, 1955) was a senior United States Army Officer (armed forces), officer. He commanded the 1st Infantry Division (United States), 1st Infantry Division in World War I ...

(who would become

Chief of Staff of the United States Army The chief of staff of the Army (CSA) is a statutory position in the United States Army held by a general officer. As the highest-ranking officer assigned to serve in the Department of the Army, the chief is the principal military advisor and a ...

), Tracy Campbell Dickson, Frank W. Coe,

William Ruthven Smith Major General William Ruthven Smith (April 2, 1868 – July 15, 1941) was a career United States Army officer who commanded the 36th Division during its deployment in France during the final months of World War I. He later became Superintendent o ...

James Ancil Shipton Brigadier General James Ancil Shipton (March 10, 1867 – February 15, 1926) was a senior United States Army officer. He served in the Philippine–American War and World War I, where he held various commands on the Western Front. Early life Jam ...

, George Blakely, Robert Mearns, Julian Robert Lindsey,

Howard Russell Hickok Howard Russell Hickok (November 26, 1870 – July 7, 1926) was a United States Army officer in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He served in World War I, among other conflicts. Biography Hickok was born on November 26, 1870, in Florida, Mi ...

Henry Howard Whitney Henry Howard Whitney (December 25, 1866 – April 2, 1949) was a United States military officer who attained the rank of brigadier general. He was known primarily for the spy missions he carried out in Puerto Rico and Cuba prior to the start of ...

, John E. Woodward, John McAuley Palmer and George Columbus Barnhardt.

Military career

As a second lieutenant, Davison served in the 22nd Infantry Regiment. He served in Montana from 1892 to 1896 and in Nebraska from 1896 to 1898. In 1899, he served in the Philippines with his regiment. Davison advanced through the ranks and was appointed to the rank of colonel on August 5, 1917. Davison commanded the 8th Infantry to September 1918. From October 1918 through February 1919, he commanded the 16th Division. From February 1919 to May 1919, he commanded Fort D. A. Russell in

Cheyenne, Wyoming Cheyenne ( or ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Wyoming, most populous city of the U.S. state of Wyoming. It is the county seat of Laramie County, Wyoming, Laramie County, with 65,132 reside ...

. In May 1919, he was assigned as executive officer of the

Hoboken, New Jersey Hoboken ( ; ) is a City (New Jersey), city in Hudson County, New Jersey, Hudson County in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Hoboken is part of the New York metropolitan area and is the site of Hoboken Terminal, a major transportation hub. As of the ...

Port of Embarkation. he received the

Navy Cross The Navy Cross is the United States Naval Service's second-highest military decoration awarded for sailors and marines who distinguish themselves for extraordinary heroism in combat with an armed enemy force. The medal is equivalent to the Army ...

for his World War I service.

Personal life

Davison was a Freemason and an Episcopalian. Davison married Mary Adele Casey, the daughter of Colonel James Casey, on September 9, 1896. She died in 1898. Davison married Esther Fleming on April 11, 1913.

Death and legacy

Davison died at a hospital on

Staten Island Staten Island ( ) is the southernmost of the boroughs of New York City, five boroughs of New York City, coextensive with Richmond County and situated at the southernmost point of New York (state), New York. The borough is separated from the ad ...

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York New York may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * ...

on February 12, 1920. He was buried at Forest Mound Cemetery in Waupun.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Davison, Peter Weimer 1869 births 1920 deaths People from Waupun, Wisconsin Military personnel from Wisconsin United States Military Academy alumni United States Army generals American football running backs United States Army generals of World War I American military personnel of the Spanish–American War United States Army Infantry Branch personnel 19th-century United States Army personnel American military personnel of the Philippine–American War