James Henry Davidson was born 19 December 1846, the son of a solicitor, one Septimus Davidson and his wife Elizabeth of London
He left Merchant Taylors’ in 1863 and qualified as a solicitor, following in his father’s footsteps, becoming the senior partner of the firm of Davidson & Morriss in London.
He was a Liveryman as well as a Freemason, and was Master of the Worshipful Company of Spectaclemakers in 1907.
He was Master of this Lodge in 1892.