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Matthew L. Davis

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Matthew L. Davis1773 - 1850

Davis's journalism career began with the short-lived New York "Evening Post" in 1794. In 1797-1798 he was associated with Philip Freneau on the "Time Piece and Literary Companion” by which time Davis had already become an admirer of Aaron Burr.

In 1804 Davis was present when Burr shot Alexander Hamilton at the Weehawken dueling grounds, and he preferred to endure a jail sentence rather than testify against his friend.

Many of Burr's private papers were left to Davis, and he published "Memoirs of Aaron Burr (1836-1837)" and "The Private Journal of Aaron Burr during his Residence of Four Years in Europe" (1838).

For many years Davis was a sachem in the Tammany Society, and in 1814-1815 he was the grand sachem.

Owing to his use of spectacles Davis was referred to as "The Old Boy in Specs" in the political world.

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Matthew Livingston Davis (1773–1850)
Unidentified artist
ca. 1840
1889.4
Mourning bracelet
Unidentified maker
1850-1880
1933.137b
Mourning bracelet
Unidentified maker
1850-1880
1933.137a.1-2
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