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Robert Atkinson Davis

Robert Atkinson Davis
Robert Atkinson Davies.jpg
4th Premier of Manitoba
In office
December 3, 1874 – October 16, 1878
Monarch Victoria
Lieutenant Governor Alexander Morris
Joseph Edouard Cauchon
Preceded by Marc-Amable Girard
Succeeded by John Norquay
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba for Winnipeg and St. John
In office
April 1, 1874 – December 23, 1874
Preceded by Donald Alexander Smith
Succeeded by District renamed
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba for Winnipeg
In office
December 23, 1874 – December 18, 1878
Preceded by District renamed
Succeeded by Thomas Scott
Personal details
Born (1841-03-09)March 9, 1841
Dudswell, Lower Canada
Died January 7, 1903(1903-01-07) (aged 61)
Phoenix, Arizona
Nationality Canadian
Political party Government
Spouse(s) Susan Augusta True (m. 1870)
Elizabeth McGonagil (m. 1876)
Children 2
Alma mater McGill University
Occupation schoolteacher, businessman
Profession politician
Cabinet Provincial Treasurer (1874–1878)

Robert Atkinson Davis (March 9, 1841 – January 7, 1903) was a businessman and Manitoba politician who served as the fourth Premier of Manitoba.

Davis was born in Dudswell, in the eastern townships of Lower Canada (now Quebec). As a young man, he worked in the mining fields of the US Rockies. He moved to Red River on 10 May 1870, and reportedly had a friendly meeting with Louis Riel shortly before the end of the Red River Rebellion. This meeting took place after Davis swam across the Red River to where Riel was hiding and called out to the guards in French, and the entire meeting took place in French as Davis was bilingual. Davis purchased a hotel in September 1870. This investment proved very profitable, and he was soon able to open several other stores in Winnipeg.

Davis assumed a significant role in Manitoba politics after the death of his first wife in 1872. He emerged as a spokesman for the province's recent Ontario immigrants, who opposed the Hudson's Bay Company's monopoly on transportation and opposed the continued prominence of the Métis in Manitoba politics.

Davis challenged HBC commissioner Donald Alexander Smith for the Presidency of the Provincial Agricultural Association in 1872. He lost this race, but was elected to both the Protestant school board and the new Winnipeg Board of Trade in February 1873. Davis also helped create the Manitoba society called "The Grange" in 1874.

In April 1874, Davis won a by-election to the provincial legislature for the riding of Winnipeg & St. Johns (replacing Smith, who had resigned). He soon emerged as leading figure in the opposition, and on July 2, 1874, supported a non-confidence motion which brought down the government. The next day, Marc-Amable Girard was called to lead a ministry based on principles of "responsible government". Davis became the Provincial Treasurer, and sought to achieve debt elimination and "better terms" from Ottawa.


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