Ira Davenport
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 29th district
In office March 4, 1885 – March 3, 1889
Preceded by	John Arnot Jr.
Succeeded by	John Raines
New York State Comptroller
In office 1882–1883
Governor	Alonzo B. Cornell Grover Cleveland
Preceded by	James Wolcott Wadsworth
Succeeded by	Alfred C. Chapin
New York State Senate (27th Dist.)
In office 1878–1881
Preceded by	George B. Bradley
Succeeded by	Sumner Baldwin
Personal details
Born	(1841-06-28)June 28, 1841 Hornellsville, New York
Died	October 6, 1904(1904-10-06) (aged 63) Bath, New York
Resting place	Davenport Family Cemetery, Bath, New York
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Katherine L. Sharpe (m. 1887-1904, his death)
Relations	George H. Sharpe (father in law)
Education	Russell Collegiate School
Occupation	Businessman

Ira Davenport (June 28, 1841 – October 6, 1904) was an American businessman, politician and philanthropist. He was most notable for his service in the New York State Senate (1878-1881), as New York State Comptroller (1882-1883), and a member of Congress from New York's 29th congressional district (1885-1889).

Davenport was born in Hornellsville, New York, the son of Ira Davenport (1795-1868) and Lydia Cameron (1800-1842).^[1] His family moved to Bath in 1847,^[1] and Davenport attended Bath's Haverling Academy and the Russell Collegiate School in New Haven, Connecticut.^[2]

Davenport's father owned and operated a large estate and was active in numerous business ventures including stores, farms, lumber, freight transportation, and real estate speculation.^[1] After his father's death, Davenport took over management of these enterprises.^[1]

He was a member of the New York State Senate (27th D.) from 1878 to 1881, sitting in the 101st, 102nd, 103rd and 104th New York State Legislatures.^[3] He was New York State Comptroller from 1882 to 1883, elected in 1881, but defeated for re-election in 1883 by Democrat Alfred C. Chapin.^[3]

Davenport was a member of the 49th and 50th United States Congresses, holding office from March 4, 1885 to March 3, 1889.^[3] He was the Republican candidate for Governor of New York in the 1885 election, and was defeated by Democrat David B. Hill.^[3]

Davenport died in Bath on October 6, 1904.^[4] He was buried at the Davenport Family Cemetery in Bath.^[5]

On April 27, 1887 in Kingston, New York, Davenport married Katherine Lawrence Sharpe (1860-1945), the daughter of George H. Sharpe.^[1] She was the granddaughter of Abraham Bruyn Hasbrouck, great-granddaughter of Abraham J. Hasbrouck and a descendant of Louis DuBois.^[6] They had no children.^[4]

The Davenport family's charitable donations included founding a home for orphaned girls, which was financed by the senior Ira Davenport and his brother Charles, and supported by Ira Davenport Jr.^[1] Once closed after 94 years of operation, the orphanage's assets endowed Bath's Ira Davenport Memorial Hospital, which was named after the senior Ira Davenport.^[7] The younger Ira Davenport was a founder of the Bath Soldiers' and Sailors' Home and the town's public library.^[8] From 1906 to 1999 (when a new facility opened), the library was named for Ira Junior. The Davenports also made substantial contributions to fund Bath's monumental First Presbyterian Church, with its Tiffany sanctuary. A small Davenport Park in Bath is named for the family, and a squash court at Amherst College is named for Ira Junior's brother John.^[9]

• Hall, Henry (1896). America's Successful Men of Affairs. Vol. 2. New York, NY: New York Tribune.
• Spencer, Thomas E. (1998). Where They're Buried. Baltimore, MD: Clearfield Company. p. 236. ISBN 978-0-8063-4823-0.

• "Ira Davenport A Candidate". Buffalo Express. Buffalo, NY. September 5, 1885 – via Newspapers.com.
• "Ira Davenport Is Dead". Buffalo Express. Buffalo, NY. October 7, 1904 – via Newspapers.com.
• Beeney, Bill (October 5, 1959). "His Philanthropy in 1863 Provides Modern Hospital Today". Democrat and Chronicle. Rochester, NY – via Newspapers.com.

• United States Congress. "Ira Davenport (id: D000072)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• Ira Davenport at The Political Graveyard
• Ira Davenport at Find a Grave