DAVIS, THOMAS OSBORNE (1814-1845).--Poet, _b._ at Mallow, _ed._ at Trinity Coll., Dublin, and called to the Irish Bar 1838. He was one of the founders of _The Nation_ newspaper, and of the Young Ireland party. He wrote some stirring patriotic ballads, originally contributed to _The Nation_, and afterwards republished as _Spirit of the Nation_, also a memoir of Curran the great Irish lawyer and orator, prefixed to an ed. of his speeches; and he had formed many literary plans which were brought to naught by his untimely death. DAVY, SIR HUMPHREY (1778-1829).--Chemist and man of letters, _s._ of a wood-carver, was _b._ at Penzance. He early showed an enthusiasm for natural science, and continued to pursue his studies when apprenticed in 1795 to a surgeon. He became specially interested in chemistry, to which in 1797 he began more exclusively to devote himself. Thereafter he assisted Dr. Beddoes in his laboratory at Bristol, and entered upon his brilliant course of chemical discovery. His _Researches, Chemical, and Philosophical_ (1799), led to his appointment as Director of the Chemical Laboratory at the Royal Institution, where he also delivered courses of scientific lectures with extraordinary popularity. Thereafter his life was a succession of scientific triumphs and honours. His great discovery was that of the metallic bases of the earths and alkalis. He also discovered various metals, including sodium, calcium, and magnesium. In 1812 he was knighted, and _m._ a wealthy widow. Thereafter he investigated volcanic action and fire-damp, and invented the safety lamp. In 1818 he was _cr._ a baronet, and in 1820 became Pres. of the Royal Society, to which he communicated his discoveries in electro-magnetism. In addition to his scientific writings, which include _Elements of Agricultural Chemistry_ (1813), and _Chemical Agencies of Electricity_, he wrote _Salmonia, or Days of Fly Fishing_ (1828), somewhat modelled upon Walton, and _Consolations in Travel_ (1830), dialogues on ethical and religious questions. D. sustained an apoplectic seizure in 1826, after which his health was much impaired, and after twice wintering in Italy, he _d._ at Geneva, where he received a public funeral. Though not attached to any Church, D. was a sincerely religious man, strongly opposed to materialism and scepticism. He holds a foremost place among scientific discoverers. DAY, JOHN (_b._ 1574).--Dramatist, _s._ of a Norfolk yeoman, was at Camb., 1592-3. It is only since 1881 that his works have been identified. He collaborated with Dekker and others in plays, and was the author of _The Isle of Gulls_ (1606), _Law Trickes_ (1608), and _Humour out of Breath_ (1608), also of an allegorical masque, _The Parliament of Bees_.