Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Davy, Charles
DAVY, CHARLES (1722–1797), miscellaneous writer, was the son of Charles Davy of Hatton Garden, London. He was educated at Caius College, Cambridge, where he graduated B.A. in 1742, M.A. in 1748 (Cantabrigienses Graduati, ed. 1787, p. 112). He was instituted to the rectory of Topcroft, Norfolk, in 1764, to the rectory of Benacre, Suffolk, in 1766, and to that of Onehouse in the same county in 1776. He died on 8 April 1797, and was buried in the chancel of Onehouse church.
His publications were: 1. ‘Conjectural Observations on the Origin and Progress of Alphabetical Writing,’ 1772, 8vo. 2. ‘Letters addressed chiefly to a Young Gentleman, upon subjects of Literature; including a translation of Euclid's Section of the Canon, and his Treatise on Harmonic; with an explanation of the Greek musical modes, according to the doctrine of Ptolemy,’ 2 vols. Bury St. Edmunds, 1787, 8vo. In 1768 there appeared ‘Proposals for printing by subscription. An Essay upon the Principles and Powers of Vocal and Instrumental Music. By Charles Davy and Christopher Smear, Fellow of Caius College, Cambridge.’ The work was never printed, but the manuscript is still in existence.
By his wife Mary, daughter of Thomas Sheppard, he had two sons, Charles and Frederick. Charles became a fellow of Caius College, Cambridge (M.B. 1781), vicar of Wickham Market, Suffolk (1803), rector of Barking and of Combs, in the same county (1818), and died on 7 March 1836, aged 79. He published (conjointly with his brother Frederick) ‘A Relation of a Journey to the Glaciers in the Dutchy of Savoy; translated from the French of M. T. Bourrit, precentor of the cathedral church of Geneva,’ 8vo, Norwich, 1775 (Davy, Athenæ Suffolcenses, ii. 234, iii. 229; Gent. Mag. new ser. v. 562).
[Gent. Mag. vol. xcv. pt. i. p. 125, pt. ii. p. 286*; Biog. Dram. vol. i. pt. i. p. 177; Suffolk Garland, pp. 17, 18.]