128 NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 



ampton and Davis was in London at the time of the death of 

 William IV, and saw the young queen Victoria. He also visited 

 St. Petersburg and was presented at court. 



During all these years he devoted himself to the study of 

 astronomy and hydrography, and having had experience in 

 navigation, he found the position offered him in the rapidly- 

 developing Coast Survey most congenial to his tastes. The 

 years 1842 to 1849 were spent in that service, during which he 

 discovered " Davis' New South Shoal," 20 miles south of 

 Nantucket shoals, and published several papers on the laws 

 governing the geological action of the tidal and other currents 

 of the ocean. His " Law of Deposit of the Flood Tide " is 

 still an accepted authority. When the Navy Department 

 resolved to publish an American Ephemeris and Nautical Al- 

 manac, Davis was placed in charge of the work, and by suc- 

 cessfully establishing it, made an enduring monument to his 

 abilities. 



Enjoying the facilities of Harvard University and the Cam- 

 bridge Observatory, and having built a house in Cambridge, 

 Davis passed many happy years in the congenial society of the 

 men of science and letters then residing there. 



In 1853, he served as commissioner to the " Crystal Palace " 

 Industrial Exhibition in New York. 



After 31 years' service in the Navy, in June, 1854, he received 

 his commission as commander, and in 1856 returned to active 

 naval service, making several voyages, and taking part in the 

 "Walker episode" in Nicaragua. He also published several 

 works of value to navigators. 



During the Civil War, Davis rendered efficient service on the 

 Construction Board of the Navy, and as fleet captain in the 

 expedition against Port Royal, and flag officer in command of 

 the Mississippi flotilla. For his gallant conduct he was made 

 Rear-Admiral, February 7, 1863, and received the thanks of Con- 

 gress. During this year. Admiral Davis became the first Chief of 

 the Bureau of Navigation and in 1865 assumed the superin- 

 tendency of the Naval Observatory, raising it to a high degree 

 of efficiency. 



