John Davies
Co-founder of the Australian newspaper The Mercury (1814-–1872)
About John Davies
Lived 1814 – 1872 (aged 58). John Davies was a British newspaper proprietor and politician.
John Davies (10 June 1814 – 11 June 1872) co-founded the Australian newspaper The Mercury.
Davies was born in London, England. He was transported to Hobart, Australia as a convict in August 1831, for ordering candles on someone else's account. His father had been transported to New South Wales only a few years before.
On 5 July 1854 he and Auber George Jones, a Tasmanian pastoralist, published the first edition of The Mercury.
In 1871 Davies passed the management of The Mercury to his sons. In June 1872 he opened up the theatre building (which he then owned) to homeless people seeking temporary shelter due to floods. He caught a chill from which he died on 11 June 1872.
Davies' son John played first-class cricket for Tasmania and was thrice Mayor of Hobart.
Don’t just read it —
keep it.
Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.
- E-book
- Audio
- Video
Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free
Important facts
People in John Davies's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Related people
Same field, nearest in time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped John Davies's
Frequently asked questions
Who was John Davies?
co-founder of the Australian newspaper The Mercury (1814-–1872)
When was John Davies born?
John Davies was born on 10 June 1814 in London.
When did John Davies die?
John Davies died on 11 June 1872 in Hobart.
What was John Davies's occupation?
John Davies was a newspaper proprietor and politician.
What nationality was John Davies?
John Davies was British.
Sources & further reading
· DBpedia: John Davies (publisher)
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). John Davies. https://biography.guide/john-davies-newspaper-proprietor/
MLA: "John Davies." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/john-davies-newspaper-proprietor/.
Chicago: "John Davies." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/john-davies-newspaper-proprietor/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
Page generated 2026-09-27 05:08 UTC