John King Davis

John King Davis (19 February 1884 – 8 May 1967) was an English-born Australian explorer and navigator notable for his work captaining exploration ships in Antarctic waters as well as for establishing meteorological stations on Macquarie Island in the subantarctic and on Willis Island in the Coral Sea.

Early life and education John King Davis was born in Kew, Surrey, England, on 19 February 1884. He was the only son of James Green Davis, army coach, and his wife Marion Alice, née King. When his father was absent on a visit to Kimberley, Davis ran away to join the crew of the mail-steamer Carisbrooke Castle, working as a steward's boy. Also in 1900, Davis signed indentures to serve for four years in the Merchant Navy and by 16 July 1905 he had passed the Board of Trade examination for the certificate of second mate.

Career Davis served as chief officer of the Nimrod during Ernest Shackleton's Antarctic expedition in 1908–1909. He was captain of the and second in command of Douglas Mawson's Australasian Antarctic expedition in 1911–1914.

At the outbreak of World War I in August 1914, Davis volunteered for active service, and was put in charge of the troop transport , carrying troops and horses to Egypt and England.

He also served as Captain of the in 1929–1930 in the course of the British Australian and New Zealand Antarctic Research Expedition.

Davis was Australia's Commonwealth Director of Navigation from 1920 to 1949. It was at the beginning of this period that he volunteered to personally set up the remote Willis Island meteorological and cyclone warning station in 1921–22. He was a contributor of articles to Walkabout.

Other activities Davis was president of the Royal Society of Victoria 1945–1946.

Known in his lifetime as a "free thinker and plain speaker" and a "deepwater sailorman of the old school", Davis remained a lifelong bachelor.

Recognition, honours, and legacy Davis was named a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society in 1915, as is the Davis Sea, located off the Antarctic coast between longitudes 82°E and 96°E.

He was awarded the Polar Medal multiple times: in 1909 (Bronze clasp);