Cecil William Davidge

Cecil William Davidge (28 March 1863 – 16 January 1936) was a British academic and writer who spent much of his career in Japan. He was professor of English at the University of Commerce in Kobe and an active promoter of Freemasonry in Japan.

He was the father of the barrister and academic Cecil Vere Davidge and grandfather of Olympic rower Christopher Davidge.

Early life and education Davidge was born in London on 28 March 1863, the only son of Frederick William Davidge and Harriet Julia Frances Ponsonby, a daughter of Major-General the Hon. Sir Frederick Ponsonby.

He was educated at Hurstpierpoint College and studied at University College London, where he graduated with a BA in English, and subsequently received his MA in English from Durham University.

Career Davidge went to Japan in 1898 to work for the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, heading its mission there until 1907 and teaching at the SPG School in Kobe.

Davidge was also active in Freemasonry in Japan. He founded Lodge Albion in the Far East, served as its master, and was a past district grand warden of the District Grand Lodge of Japan.

Personal life Davidge married Elsie Hamer, daughter of Henry Hamer of Hamer Hall, Lancashire, in Kobe in 1900. They had three children: Cecil Vere Davidge, Cuthbert Roy Davidge and Beryl Davidge.

Davidge died at Kingsthorpe on 16 January 1936, aged 72, following an operation.