Peter Weimer Davison (May 15, 1869 – February 12, 1920) was an American brigadier general during

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

Early life and education

Peter Davison was born on his family's farm near

Waupun, Wisconsin Waupun is a city in Dodge County, Wisconsin, Dodge and Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, Fond du Lac counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 11,344 at the 2020 census. Of this, 7,795 were in Dodge County, and 3,549 were in Fond du ...

on May 15, 1869. He attended the

United States Military Academy The United States Military Academy (USMA), also known metonymically as West Point or simply as Army, is a United States service academy in West Point, New York. It was originally established as a fort, since it sits on strategic high groun ...

, graduating with the class of 1892.Marquis Who's Who, Inc. ''Who Was Who in American History, the Military''. Chicago: Marquis Who's Who, 1975. P. 128 During his time at the United States Military Academy, he helped found and played on the Academy's football team. His fellow classmates included numerous men who would later attain

general officer A general officer is an officer of high rank in the armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry. In some usages the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colonel."general, adj. and n.". OED O ...

rank, such as

Charles Pelot Summerall General Charles Pelot Summerall (March 4, 1867 – May 14, 1955) was a senior United States Army officer. He commanded the 1st Infantry Division in World War I, was Chief of Staff of the United States Army from 1926 to 1930, and was President of ...

, Tracy Campbell Dickson, Frank W. Coe,

William Ruthven Smith Major General William Ruthven Smith (April 2, 1868 – July 15, 1941) was a career United States Army officer who commanded the 36th Division during its deployment in France during the final months of World War I. He later became Superintendent of ...

James Ancil Shipton Brigadier General James Ancil Shipton (March 10, 1867 – February 15, 1926) was a senior United States Army officer. He served in the Philippine–American War and World War I, where he held various commands on the Western Front. Early life Jam ...

, Louis Chapin Covell, Preston Brown, George Blakely,

Robert Mearns Brigadier General Robert Walter Mearns (July 16, 1866 – May 23, 1949) was a U.S. Army general during World War I. Early life and education Robert Walter Mearns was born on July 16, 1866, in Kemblesville, Pennsylvania, to Andrew James Mearns, ...

Julian Robert Lindsey Major General Julian Robert Lindsey (March 16, 1871 – June 27, 1948) was a United States Army cavalry officer in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He served in the China Relief Expedition, the Pancho Villa Expedition and commanded a regim ...

Howard Russell Hickok Howard Russell Hickok (November 26, 1870 – July 7, 1926) was a United States Army officer in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He served in World War I, among other conflicts. Biography Hickok was born on November 26, 1870, in Florida, M ...

Henry Howard Whitney Henry Howard Whitney (December 25, 1866 – April 2, 1949) was a United States military officer who attained the rank of brigadier general. He was known primarily for the spy missions he carried out in Puerto Rico and Cuba prior to the start of ...

John E. Woodward John E. Woodward (May 24, 1870 – August 4, 1944) was a career officer in the United States Army. A veteran of the Spanish–American War, Philippine–American War, Moro Rebellion, Pancho Villa Expedition, and World War I, he served from 1892 ...

, John McAuley Palmer and

George Columbus Barnhardt George Columbus Barnhardt (December 28, 1868 – December 10, 1930) was a United States Army officer who served during World War I.Marquis Who's Who, Inc. ''Who Was Who in American History, the Military''. Chicago: Marquis Who's Who, 1975. P. 30IS ...

Military career

As a second lieutenant, Davison served in the 22nd Infantry Regiment. He served in Montana from 1892 to 1896 and in Nebraska from 1896 to 1898. In 1899, he served in the Philippines with his regiment. Davison advanced through the ranks and was appointed to the rank of colonel on August 5, 1917. Davison commanded the 8th Infantry to September 1918. From October 1918 through February 1919, he commanded the 16th Division. From February 1919 to May 1919, he commanded Fort D. A. Russell in

Cheyenne, Wyoming Cheyenne ( or ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Wyoming, as well as the county seat of Laramie County, with 65,132 residents, per the 2020 US Census. It is the principal city of the Cheyenne metropolitan statistical ...

. In May 1919, he was assigned as executive officer of the

Hoboken, New Jersey Hoboken ( ; Unami: ') is a city in Hudson County in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 U.S. census, the city's population was 60,417. The Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program calculated that the city's population was 58,690 i ...

Port of Embarkation. he received the

Navy Cross The Navy Cross is the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps' second-highest military decoration awarded for sailors and marines who distinguish themselves for extraordinary heroism in combat with an armed enemy force. The medal is eq ...

for his World War I service.

Personal life

Davison was a Freemason and an Episcopalian. Davison married Mary Adele Casey, the daughter of Colonel James Casey, on September 9, 1896. She died in 1898. Davison married Esther Fleming on April 11, 1913.

Death and legacy

Davison died at a hospital on

Staten Island Staten Island ( ) is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Richmond County, in the U.S. state of New York. Located in the city's southwest portion, the borough is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull an ...

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

on February 12, 1920. He was buried at Forest Mound Cemetery in Waupun.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Davison, Peter Weimer 1869 births 1920 deaths People from Waupun, Wisconsin Military personnel from Wisconsin United States Military Academy alumni United States Army generals American football running backs Burials in Wisconsin United States Army generals of World War I American military personnel of the Spanish–American War United States Army Infantry Branch personnel