Royal Page Davidson

{{short description|Educator / inventor (1870–1943)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}} {{Infobox engineer | honorific_prefix = Colonel | name = Royal Page Davidson | honorific_suffix = | image = File:Royal Page Davidson.png | image_size = | alt = black & white image of a man sitting by a writing desk | caption = | native_name = | native_name_lang = | nationality =  | citizenship =  | birth_name = | birth_date = October 9, 1870<ref name="ThousandMen" /> | birth_place = Somerville, New Jersey, U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|1943|1|16|1870|10|9}}<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 4, 1988 |title=Academy's varied history recalled |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/military-clipping-apr-04-1988-4986883/ |url-access=registration |access-date=19 March 2025 |work=Janesville Gazette |location=Janesville, Wisconsin |page=10 |via=NewspaperArchive.com}}</ref> | death_place = Northwestern Military and Naval Academy, Wisconsin, U.S. | resting_place = | resting_place_coordinates = | education = | spouse = | parents = | children = | discipline = | institutions = Northwestern Military and Naval Academy | practice_name = | employer = | significant_projects = | significant_design = Davidson-Cadillac armored car, Davidson Automobile Battery armored car | significant_advance = | significant_awards = | signature = | signature_alt = | website = }} Colonel<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=February 23, 1942 |title=One-Man Blitz. |url=http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/54830604 |magazine=TIME |page=28 |via=Academic Search Complete |issn=0040-781X |volume=39 |issue=8}}</ref> '''Royal Page Davidson''' (October 9, 1870 – January 16, 1943) was an American inventor and educator, from Somerville, New Jersey.<ref name="ThousandMen">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PN8MAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA305 |title=A Thousand American Men of Mark To-day |year=1917 |page=306 |quote=Royal Page Davidson, Educator of Lake Geneva, Wis., was born Oct. 9, 1870, in Somerville, N.J. |access-date=February 3, 2015}}</ref> He was based in Northwestern Military and Naval Academy, which was founded by his father Harlan Page Davidson.<ref>{{Cite news |date=June 19, 2005 |title=Military History Made at Obscure Academy |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/military-clipping-jun-19-2005-4986856/ |url-access=registration |access-date=19 March 2025 |work=Arlington Heights Daily Herald |location=Arlington Heights, Illinois |page=315 |via=NewspaperArchive.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=February 25, 1951 |title=Summer Folks Double Walworth Population |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/other-articles-clipping-feb-25-1951-4986866/ |url-access=registration |access-date=19 March 2025 |website=Wisconsin State Journal |page=13 |via=NewspaperArchive.com |location=Madison, Wisconsin}}</ref> He developed the Davidson-Cadillac armored car,<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 18, 1915 |title=This Armored Motor Car is now touring across the continent |work=New York Times}}</ref> and the Davidson Automobile Battery armored car.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Royal Page Davidson Armored Car |url=http://imagesearch.library.illinois.edu/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/tdc&CISOPTR=1237&CISOBOX=1&REC=9 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719211531/http://imagesearch.library.illinois.edu/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/tdc&CISOPTR=1237&CISOBOX=1&REC=9 |archive-date=2011-07-19 |access-date=2008-12-04 |website=Illinois.edu}}</ref> From 1925, Davidson developed a then 9-hole golf course in Avon Park, Florida.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://dos.fl.gov/communications/press-releases/2019/pinecrest-golf-club-featured-as-florida-historic-golf-trail-course-of-the-month/|title=Pinecrest Golf Club Featured as Florida Historic Golf Trail Course of the Month - Florida Department of State|website=dos.fl.gov}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Page Davidson, Royal}} Category:1870 births Category:1943 deaths Category:People from Highland Park, Illinois Category:People from Somerville, New Jersey Category:Educators from New Jersey Category:University of Wisconsin–Madison alumni Category:University of Massachusetts Amherst alumni Category:19th-century American inventors Category:19th-century American engineers Category:20th-century American inventors Category:20th-century American engineers Category:Inventors from New Jersey Category:Inventors from Wisconsin Category:Engineers from New Jersey Category:Engineers from Wisconsin Category:Academics from New Jersey