Bliss N. Davis

Bliss N. Davis (December 8, 1801 – February 11 1885) was a Vermont politician and lawyer who served as President of the Vermont State Senate.

Biography

Bliss Nash Davis was born in Vergennes, Vermont on December 8, 1801. He studied law, was admitted to the bar, and practiced, first in Hardwick, and later in Danville.[1]

Davis served in local offices, including Justice of the Peace.[2][3][4] He was also involved in several businesses, including serving as President of the Caledonia National Bank.[5]

Originally a Whig, and later a Republican, Davis served as Caledonia County State's Attorney from 1843 to 1844 and 1848 to 1850.[6]

In 1850 Davis prosecuted William Warburton, alias "Bristol Bill" for counterfeiting. Upon hearing the guilty verdict Bristol Bill stabbed Davis in the back of the neck. Davis recovered, and the next day Bristol Bill was sentenced to 10 years in prison.[7]

He served in the Vermont Senate from 1858 to 1860 and was Senate President in 1859.[8]

Davis maintained an active law practice until just a few weeks before his death. He died in Danville on February 11, 1885.[9]

References
  1. Hamilton Child, Gazetteer of Caledonia and Essex Counties, Vt. 1764-1887, 1887, pages 85, 182
  2. Vermont General Assembly, Journal of the Vermont House of Representatives, 1830, page 45
  3. Vermont General Assembly, Journal of the Vermont House of Representatives, 1836, page xliii
  4. Leonard Deming, Catalogue of the Principal Officers of Vermont, 1851, Appendix, page 151
  5. U.S. Comptroller of the Currency, Annual Report, 1876, page 102
  6. Child, Gazetteer of Caledonia and Essex Counties, Vt.
  7. Eric McGuire Archived April 8, 2016, at the Wayback Machine, Wm.Warburton alias “Bristol Bill”, Groton Historical Society Newsletter, Summer, 2011
  8. Vermont General Assembly, Journal of the Vermont State Senate, 1859, pages 4, 8
  9. New York Times, Obituary, Bliss N. Davis, February 12, 1885
Political offices
Preceded by
Edward Seymour		 President pro tempore of the Vermont State Senate
1859 – 1859		 Succeeded by
George Wilkins
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