Davenport was born in
Salem, Massachusetts, the son of Anna L. (Green) and David Davenport. He graduated from
Wesleyan University in 1889; and from
Columbia University in 1905. He taught political science at
Hamilton College from 1904 to 1929. He was a member of the
New York State Senate (36th D.) in
1909 and
1910. He ran on the
Progressive ticket for
Lieutenant Governor of New York at the
1912 New York state election; and for
Governor of New York at the
1914 New York state election. He was again a member of the State Senate (36th D.) from 1919 to 1924, sitting in the
142nd,
143rd,
144th,
145th,
146th and
147th New York State Legislatures; and was a delegate to the
1924 Republican National Convention. He was elected as a Republican to the
69th,
70th,
71st and
72nd United States Congresses, holding office from March 4, 1925, to March 3, 1933. He died on December 26, 1956, in
Washington, D.C. ==Sources==