Royal Ascot 



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transferred to the Marquis of Donegall, and Sharpe 

 followed the pack. At a later period he was huntsman 

 to Mr. H anbury. George Sharpe married the daughter 

 of David Johnson, huntsman to the King, and in 1812 he 

 succeeded his father-in-law in this appointment, which 

 he held until 1822. He died in 1824. 



The remarkable huntsman of the Royal Buckhounds, 

 Charles Davis, deserves some account at our hands, both 

 for the unusual term of his service, which reached forty- 

 four years, and for personal qualities which made that service 

 memorable. Born on January 15th, 1788, Charles Davis^ 

 when twelve years old, became whipper-in to his father, 

 who hunted the King's Harriers, and soon after obtained 

 the situation of whip under Mr. Sharpe, his future father- 

 in-law. Starting thus early in life, he served under four 

 sovereigns, George III., George IV., William IV., and 

 Queen Victoria. Davis's experience, whilst following his 

 master, George HI., to the field, was very different 

 from that of his subsequent career. At that time, owing 

 to the insecurity of the roads, it was deemed advisable 

 that His Majesty should have some protection while 

 hunting, and Davis was pistol-boy to the King. From 

 this humble station, and from that of " pioneer to His 

 Majesty," whose duty it was to make the fences easy for 

 the King by previously jumping them, Davis rose, until, 

 in 1 82 1, he became Huntsman to the Royal Buckhounds, 

 and he continued to fill that position up to the year 1866. 

 "His knowledge of his craft could hardly be exceeded, no 

 detail concerning the runs of his stags, or the nature of 

 his country was unknown to him. Not less notable than 

 his practical skill, was the wonderful) [control he exerted 



