Born in Kilroot on 3rd October 1867, John Alexander Davey was the son of Samuel and Agnes Davey (born Cowan).
He travelled the globe widely before going to South Africa in 1891 where he joined the Engineering Branch of the Postal Department, Cape Town, and was placed in charge of surveying and establishing telegraphic services in the North West Cape, an area where few Europeans had travelled at that time. His good judgment and administrative ability gained him recognition within the Postal Department and he held posts of responsibility as Surveyor of Posts in the Eastern Cape, Natal and Transvaal successively and then as Postmaster of Johannesburg.
In 1924 his appointment as Secretary to Department of Post and Telecommunications took him to Cape Town. Later appointed Assistant Postmaster General of the Union of South Africa, at the time of his retirement in 1927 he was Acting Postmaster General. He then settled at Cambridge, East London, in the Eastern Cape of South Africa - becoming very involved in public affairs. He was a Councilor in the Cambridge Municipality for 10 years, being deputy mayor for two years, followed by six years as Mayor 1933-1939. He was also Deputy Chairman of the East London Divisional Council. During the South African War (1899 – 1902) (aka Second Boer War) he joined up and held the rank of Major in command of a corps of scouts operating in the Eastern Cape.
He was married in 1894 to Emma Winifred Bowe with whom he had 2 sons and a daughter before being widowed in 1919. He married Constance Potterill in 1921 and had 1 son. He died 29th June 1944 in Pietermaritzburg, Natal, South Africa.
| Additional Information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 3rd Oct 1867 | |
| Date of Death | 29th Jun 1944 | |
| Mother (First Name/s and Maiden) | Agnes Cowan | |
| Father (First Name/s and Surname) | Samuel Davey | |
| Number of Children | 4 | |
