George E. Davis

George Edward Davis (1850–1906) is regarded as the founding father of the discipline of Chemical Engineering.

Davis was born at Eton on 27 July 1850, the eldest son of George Davis, a bookseller. At the age of fourteen he was apprenticed to a local bookbinder but he abandoned this trade after two years to pursue his interest in chemistry. Davis studied at the Slough Mechanics Institute while working at the local gas works, and then spent a year studying at the Royal School of Mines in London (now part of Imperial College, London) before leaving to work in the chemical industry around Manchester, which at the time was the main centre of the chemical industry in the UK.

Davis worked as a chemist at Brearley and Sons for three years. He also worked as an inspector for the Alkali Act of 1863, a very early piece of environmental legislation that required soda manufacturers to reduce the amount of gaseous hydrochloric acid released to the atmosphere from their factories. In 1872 he was engaged as manager at the Lichfield Chemical Company in Staffordshire. In this job his capacity for innovation flourished. His works included what was at the time the tallest chimney in the UK, with a height of more than 200 feet (61 m).

George E. Davis (Medal of Honor)

George Evans Davis (December 26, 1839 – June 28, 1926) was a recipient of the Medal of Honor during the American Civil War.

Early life

Davis was born in Dunstable, Massachusetts, and worked as a clerk in a local store.

Civil War

At the start of the war in April 1861, Davis enlisted in the 1st Vermont Infantry for three months service. After his three month enlistment expired, he returned to his civilian job.

Following President Lincoln's call for more volunteers in July 1862, Davis re-enlisted as a private in Company D, 10th Vermont Infantry. He was quickly elected to the rank of second lieutenant and promoted to first lieutenant in January 1863.

On July 9, 1864, at the Battle of Monocacy, Davis was in command of a small detachment ordered to guard bridges. Despite repeated attacks by the Confederates, Davis's detachment held.

Davis continued to serve with the 10th Vermont Infantry and was promoted to captain during the Shenandoah Valley Campaign. While in winter quarters in Petersburg, Virginia, his cabin accidentally collapsed. Davis suffered an injury to his leg and was discharged due to disability.