Robert V. Davidson
American lawyer and politician (1853–1925)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Robert Vance Davidson (July 23, 1853 – July 3, 1925) was an American lawyer and politician. A Democrat, he was Texas Attorney General and a member of the Texas Senate.
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Robert V. Davidson | |
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| Texas Attorney General | |
| In office 1904–1910 | |
| Preceded by | Charles K. Bell |
| Succeeded by | Jewel P. Lightfoot |
| Member of the Texas Senate from the 17th district | |
| In office January 8, 1901 – August 6, 1904 | |
| Preceded by | John E. Linn |
| Succeeded by | W. M. Holland |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Robert Vance Davidson July 23, 1853 |
| Died | July 3, 1925 (aged 71) Dallas, Texas, US |
| Party | Democratic |
| Relations | Zebulon Vance Thomas McKinney Jack (father-in-law) William Houston Jack (grandfather-in-law) William Pitt Ballinger (in-law) James E. Harrison (in-law) Robert Mills (in-law) |
| Alma mater | Bailey Law School |
| Occupation | Lawyer, politician |
Early life and education
Davidson was born on July 23, 1853, in Murphy, North Carolina, the son of Allen Turner Davidson and Elizabeth (née Howell) Davidson.[1] He was related to Zebulon Vance.[2] He was educated at the school of Stephen Lee, then attended the Bailey Law School.[3] In 1874, he was admitted to the bar,[4] moving to Galveston, Texas the same year.[1]
Career
Davidson was district attorney from 1879 to c. 1883,[4] and for fourteen years, was a member of its school board. He was a coauthor of the city charter following the 1900 Galveston hurricane.[1]
Davidson was a Democrat. From January 8, 1901, to August 6, 1904, he was a member of the Texas Senate, representing the 17th district.[5][6] The Texas State Historical Association erroneously claims he served in 1902 and 1903.[1] While serving, he was chairman of the Committees on Towns and City Corporations and on Internal Improvements, as well as a member of the Committees on Commerce and Manufactures; on Counties and County Boundaries; on Educational Affairs; on Judicial Districts; on Judiciary No. 1; on Military Affairs; on Public Buildings and Grounds; on Rules; and on State Affairs.[5]
From 1904 to 1910, Davidson was the Texas Attorney General, as which he was involved with the Waters-Pierce Case, an antitrust lawsuit. He was an unsuccessful candidate in the 1910 Texas gubernatorial election, for which he campaigned on anti-Prohibitionism.[1]
In January 1911, Davidson returned to his private practice, in Dallas.[1] He worked as an anti-trust lawyer[7] and was a member of the partnership Davidson & Hawkins.
Personal life and death
On July 16, 1879, Davidson married Laura Harrison Jack,[4] the daughter of Thomas McKinney Jack[2] and granddaughter of William Houston Jack; she was also related to William Pitt Ballinger, James E. Harrison, and Robert Mills.[8] He and his wife had four or five children together.[3][4] He was a member of the Texas branch of the Sons of the American Revolution.[9] He died on July 3, 1925, aged 71, in Dallas and was buried at Lakeview Cemetery, in Galveston.[1]