Henry Pomeroy Davison
Henry Pomeroy Davison Sr. | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Troy, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | May 6, 1922 (aged 54) Locust Valley, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Financier, benefactor |
| Known for | Leadership of the American Red Cross War Council during WWI; chairman of the League of Red Cross Societies |
Henry Pomeroy Davison Sr. (June 12, 1867 – May 6, 1922) was a prominent American financier and benefactor.
Biography
Davison, the eldest among four siblings, was born in Troy, Pennsylvania. He experienced the loss of his mother at the age of nine.
Career
Starting his professional journey as a bank bookkeeper, Davison joined a financial institution in Bridgeport, Connecticut at 21. Subsequently, he relocated to New York City where he worked at Astor Place Bank and ultimately rose to the presidency of Liberty National Bank. He was instrumental in the establishment of Bankers Trust Company. In 1909, Davison became a senior partner at JP Morgan & Company and took part in the 1910 Jekyll Island conference that contributed to the creation of the Federal Reserve system in 1913.
Role with the Red Cross
Following the United States entry into World War I in 1917, Davison assumed leadership of the War Council for the American Red Cross. Under his guidance, a fundraising initiative successfully secured $4 million dedicated to Red Cross ambulances, earning him the Distinguished Service Medal in recognition of his contributions.
After the war, Davison championed the formation of an international organization to unify national Red Cross societies. This advocacy culminated in the establishment of the League of Red Cross Societies in 1919, where he served as chairman. He aimed to broaden its scope beyond that of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), fostering a more inclusive and effective global humanitarian framework. Despite opposition from Swiss authorities, Davison remained steadfast in his efforts to enhance international cooperation.
In 1919, he authored The American Red Cross in the Great War, chronicling Red Cross operations during wartime. Davison continued as chairman of the league until his passing in 1922. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies commemorates his impact through the Henry Davison Award.
Personal life
On April 13, 1893, Davison wed Kate Trubee (1871–1961). Together they had four children: two sons and two daughters:
- Frederick Trubee Davison (1896–1974), who served as personnel director for the Central Intelligence Agency
- Henry Pomeroy Davison Jr. (1898–1961), a Time magazine director who married Anne Stillman (1902–1987), daughter of James A. Stillman
- Alice Trubee Davison (1899–1983), spouse of Artemus Lamb Gates (1895–1976)
- Frances Pomeroy Davison (1903–1969), who married Ward Cheney, son of Charles Cheney, a partner at J.P. Morgan & Company
Davison passed away on May 6, 1922, aged 54, at his Long Island estate Peacock Point in Locust Valley, during surgery aimed at removing a brain tumor after two unsuccessful prior attempts. Most of his estate was entrusted to his wife.
External links
- Articles with short description
- Articles with hCards
- No local image but image on Wikidata
- American bankers
- Philanthropists from New York (state)
- American Red Cross personnel
- Presidents of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
- People from Bradford County, Pennsylvania
- People from Locust Valley, New York
- 1867 births
- 1922 deaths
- Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army)
- Civilian recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (United States)