William Henry Davis was born on 19th. May 1783 in Chelsea. Little is known of his childhood but, by the time he was twenty, he had acquired sufficient skill and confidence to submit a portrait of Mrs. J. Biddulph and children to the Royal Academy. His leaning towards animal subjects at this early stage of his career was demonstrated by his other exhibit in 1803, entitled ‘Piggs’. He exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1806 and 1810.

In 1837 he was appointed Animal Painter to William IV who died later that year. He was the brother of R. B. Davis who had received this honour 9 years earlier.

Davis exhibited 30 works at the Royal Academy, 7 at the British Institution and 8 at Suffolk Street.