Davis, John (1543-1605), also spelled Davys, an English mariner and explorer, was the first European to discover what is now Davis Strait, between Greenland and Canada. He led the way for such explorers of northeast Canada as Henry Hudson and William Baffin. Davis was one of the most skilled navigators of the late 1500’s. He invented a type of quadrant, a device used in navigation, and developed what became the standard ship’s log.
From 1585 to 1587, Davis headed three expeditions in search of the Northwest Passage, a route through Canada between Europe and Asia. He discovered Davis Strait on his first trip. During his voyages, Davis explored the east coast of Baffin Island and the west coast of Greenland but did not find a route west. From 1591 to 1593, he tried to find a passage to Asia via the Strait of Magellan in South America. He failed to do so but sighted the Falkland Islands, off the southeast coast of South America. Davis became a pilot for the East India Company’s first fleet to East Asia. He was killed by Japanese pirates on the night of Dec. 29 to 30, 1605. Davis was born at Sandridge Barton in the county of Devon.
