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Eric Davidson

1915 – 2009

Survivor of the Halifax explosion

Auto mechanic
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About Eric Davidson

Lived 1915 – 2009 (aged 94). Eric Davidson was an auto mechanic.

John "Eric" Davidson (May 10, 1915—September 9, 2009) was a Canadian mechanic who was one of the last survivors of the Halifax Explosion. He was two years old when he was blinded by the Halifax Explosion on December 6, 1917. At the time of his death in 2009, Davidson was the penultimate living survivor with permanent injuries from the Halifax Explosion, which killed more than 1,600 people. where he studied music. Davidson also provided first person accounts of the disaster to several books and publications, including The Survivors: The Children of the Halifax Explosion and Shattered City: The Halifax Explosion and the Road to Recovery. “The Blind Mechanic” written by Eric’s daughter Marilyn Davidson Elliott chronicles his life paying tribute to him as a survivor, a father and a champion of courage.

Davidson, who lived in the city's north end, was employed by the City of Halifax as a mechanic until his retirement in 1980.

According to Janet Kitz, author of the book Shattered City: The Halifax Explosion and the Road to Recovery which chronicles the disaster, Davidson's death left just one living survivor still receiving a pension for long-term injuries sustained in the explosion.

Davidson resided in Berwick for the last few years of his life. He died on September 9, 2009, at Grand View Manor in Berwick, Nova Scotia, at the age of 94. His funeral was held at the United Memorial Church in Halifax.

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Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
Auto mechanic
Education
Halifax School for the Blind
Also known as
John "Eric" Davidson

People in Eric Davidson's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Eric Davidson's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Eric Davidson?

survivor of the Halifax explosion

When was Eric Davidson born?

Eric Davidson was born on 10 May 1915.

When did Eric Davidson die?

Eric Davidson died on 9 September 2009.

What was Eric Davidson's occupation?

Eric Davidson was an auto mechanic.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Eric Davidson

· Wikidata: Q5386354

· DBpedia: Eric Davidson (survivor)

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Eric Davidson. https://biography.guide/eric-davidson/

MLA: "Eric Davidson." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/eric-davidson/.

Chicago: "Eric Davidson." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/eric-davidson/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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