Sir William Edward Davidson, KCMG, CB, KC (17 April 1853 – 12 July 1923) was a British lawyer, civil servant, and alpinist. He was the first Legal Adviser to the Foreign Office as well as the president of the Alpine Club (1911-1913).
Educated at Balliol College, Oxford, Davidson was a student at Lincoln's Inn, but was called to the bar at the Inner Temple in 1879. After a short period on the South Wales Circuit and in the Board of Trade, Davidson became Legal Advisor to the Foreign Office in 1886 (eo nomine from 1892), serving until 1918.
A distinguished alpinist, Davidson was president of the Alpine Club from 1911 until 1913/1914.
References
- "Sir Edward Davidson". The Times. 14 July 1923. p. 12.
- 1853 births
- 1923 deaths
- Knights Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George
- Companions of the Order of the Bath
- English King's Counsel
- 19th-century King's Counsel
- 20th-century King's Counsel
- Civil servants in the Board of Trade
- Civil servants in the Foreign Office
- Alumni of Balliol College, Oxford
- Members of Lincoln's Inn
- Members of the Inner Temple
- British mountain climbers
- Presidents of the Alpine Club (UK)