Chris Davis

Chris Davis was born Henry Joseph Davis in the Kensington district of London in 1864. He began his career an an apprentice wood engraver during the late 1870s and early 1880s. On 1 November 1885 he married Danish born Christiana Alexandria Manthorpe and had three daughters and a son between 1893 and 1897. By 1891 Davis was working in journalism at the 'People' as art editor supplying numerous illustrations and articles for that paper. He also wrote numerous music hall sketches and songs such as 'The Fighting Parson' and the 'Hummingbirds' the Fred Karno farce which launched the career of Charlie Chaplin in 1905. He also wrote songs for George Mozart and George Leyton. On 16 September 1916 his only son Frances Davis was killed at Ginche . Chris Davis died on the Monday of January 2nd 1933 at his residence of 25 Fairmount Road Brixton.