The Dictionary of Australasian Biography/Davies, Hon. John
Davies, Hon. John, C.M.G., M.L.C., J.P., son of the late John Davies, of New South Wales, was born in Sydney on March 2nd, 1839. Starting in business as an ironmonger and general blacksmith, he commenced to take an active part in politics on the Liberal side as soon as he was of age, and in Dec. 1874 he was returned to the Assembly for East Sydney, which constituency he continued to represent until his appointment to the Legislative Council in Dec. 1887. He was Postmaster-General in the John Robertson Government from August to Dec. 1877. Mr. Davies was acting British Commissioner at the Sydney International Exhibition in 1879, and was created C.M.G. in the following year, when he was a Commissioner for New South Wales to the Melbourne International Exhibition; as also for the Amsterdam Exhibition in 1882, and the Colonial and Indian Exhibition in 1886. Mr. Davies, who was President of the Royal Commission on Friendly Societies, married, in 1861, Miss Elizabeth Eaton.