Governor of Ohio, Mayor of Cleveland. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, he was the son of a Welsh immigrant and left school when he was 13 years old to work in a steel mill. He attended night school and business college until his father was elected to the Ohio State House of Representatives in 1897. Davis was appointed by his father as a page to run errands for him and other house members. In 1899, he founded the Davis Rate Adjustment Company and sold telephone securities until he founded the Harry L. Davis Insurance Company a few years later. In 1909, he was elected as Treasurer of Cleveland and became the city's mayor in 1915. As Mayor, he established a committee to aid the American effort during World War I which became a model that other large cities followed. He was a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1916 and was reelected as Mayor. 1919 was a disastrous year for Cleveland and was filled with violent riots involving the socialist and communist workers' organizations called the Red Scare. Several public and private buildings were bombed and set on fire including Davis' home. He served until his resignation in 1920 to campaign successfully for the office of Governor. Elected as Ohio's 49th Governor, he served from 1921 to 1923. As Governor, he reconstructed the executive branch of Ohio politics. He did not seek reelection in 1922 and returned to his insurance business. He tried again to attain the role of Governor in 1924 and lost the election to Alvin Victor Donahey, the same candidate whom he defeated in 1920. He was elected as the Mayor of Cleveland again in 1933, but could not control the corruption that enveloped the political offices and refused renomination. He died in Cleveland in 1950 when he was 72 years old. His son, Harry L. Davis, Jr., was an Attorney-General of Ohio.
Governor of Ohio, Mayor of Cleveland. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, he was the son of a Welsh immigrant and left school when he was 13 years old to work in a steel mill. He attended night school and business college until his father was elected to the Ohio State House of Representatives in 1897. Davis was appointed by his father as a page to run errands for him and other house members. In 1899, he founded the Davis Rate Adjustment Company and sold telephone securities until he founded the Harry L. Davis Insurance Company a few years later. In 1909, he was elected as Treasurer of Cleveland and became the city's mayor in 1915. As Mayor, he established a committee to aid the American effort during World War I which became a model that other large cities followed. He was a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1916 and was reelected as Mayor. 1919 was a disastrous year for Cleveland and was filled with violent riots involving the socialist and communist workers' organizations called the Red Scare. Several public and private buildings were bombed and set on fire including Davis' home. He served until his resignation in 1920 to campaign successfully for the office of Governor. Elected as Ohio's 49th Governor, he served from 1921 to 1923. As Governor, he reconstructed the executive branch of Ohio politics. He did not seek reelection in 1922 and returned to his insurance business. He tried again to attain the role of Governor in 1924 and lost the election to Alvin Victor Donahey, the same candidate whom he defeated in 1920. He was elected as the Mayor of Cleveland again in 1933, but could not control the corruption that enveloped the political offices and refused renomination. He died in Cleveland in 1950 when he was 72 years old. His son, Harry L. Davis, Jr., was an Attorney-General of Ohio.
Bio by: K Guy
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