Sir Robert Davers, 2nd Baronet

Sir Robert Davers, 2nd Baronet ( – 1 October 1722) was a British Tory politician and landowner.

Early life in Barbados

Robert Davers was born in the English colony of Barbados. He was the only surviving son of Sir Robert Davers, 1st Baronet and his wife Eleanor. He owned 300 acres of land which was worked by 200 Black slaves. Davers was born in Barbados before coming to England between 1680 and 1682. He then returned to Barbados and took his seat in the Council there on 13 June 1682. On 30 November 1683 he was one of the Barons of the Court of Exchequer and of Pleas of Barbados.

Political career He moved back permanently to England in 1687. In 1688, his wife's uncle, Lord Dover selected Davers as the court candidate for Bury St Edmunds. At parliament he was appointed to 35 committees. His only recorded speech was in opposition to increasing supplies for the English effort in the Nine Years' War.

In 1700 he was appointed a justice of the peace for Suffolk. He represented Bury for a second term from 1703 to 1705, after which he was elected MP for Suffolk, holding that seat until his death in 1722. In 1721, his name was included on a list of leading politicians and likely Jacobite sympathisers sent to James Francis Edward Stuart.

Personal life

Davers married Hon. Mary Jermyn, daughter and co-heiress of Thomas Jermyn, 2nd Baron Jermyn, on 2 February 1682. They had five sons and five daughters. By this marriage he acquired in 1703 one-fifth of the Rushbrooke Hall estate, of which he purchased the other parts from his sister-in-law, Hon. Merolina Jermyn, the wife of Sir Thomas Spring, 3rd Baronet. He sold the estate of Rougham between 1705 and 1710 to his son in law, Clement Corrance and made Rushbrooke the family's principle seat. Lady Davers died ten days after her husband in 1722. Davers was succeeded as baronet by his son, Robert.