John Davie (activist) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids John Davie
Portrait of Davie by John MacLaren Barclay
Born	1800 Stirling, Scotland
Died	1891 (aged 91)
Occupation	Draper, activist

John Davie (1800 – 1891) was a Scottish businessman and a strong supporter of many important causes. He worked to promote healthy eating, like vegetarianism. He also believed in avoiding alcohol and supported rights for all people.

Early Life and Business

John Davie was born in Stirling, Scotland, in the year 1800. As he grew up, he became a successful draper. A draper is someone who sells cloth and fabrics.

He earned a lot of money from his business. Davie was also a respected leader in his church. He was an elder in the United Presbyterian Church.

A Champion for Causes

John Davie was passionate about many different ideas. He wanted to make the world a better place.

Healthy Living

When he was 46 years old, Davie became a vegetarian. This means he chose not to eat meat. He believed it was a healthy way to live. For some time, he even worked as the secretary for the Vegetarian Society. This group helps people learn about and try vegetarian eating.

Davie also believed in avoiding alcohol. This idea is called temperance. In 1830, he helped start the first group in Scotland that encouraged people to completely avoid alcohol. This was called the Total Abstinence Society.

He also thought that using tobacco was unhealthy. He spoke out against it.

Medical Beliefs

Davie had strong opinions about medicine too. He was against vaccination, which is when you get a shot to prevent diseases. He also opposed vivisection. This was the practice of doing experiments on live animals. He believed it was wrong to harm animals for science.

Rights and Peace

John Davie supported several movements that aimed for fairness and peace. He was a supporter of Chartism. This was a movement in the 1800s that wanted more rights for working-class people. They wanted things like the right for all men to vote.

He also believed in the peace movement. This group worked to prevent wars and promote peaceful ways to solve problems between countries. Davie was also a supporter of women's suffrage. This was the fight to give women the right to vote.

Water Therapy

Davie was interested in a health treatment called hydrotherapy. This involves using water in different ways to help people feel better. He helped start a special place called the Waverly Hydrotherapy Institution in Melrose. He was also a managing director there.

Later Life and Legacy

By 1874, John Davie was known as one of the "four leading vegetarians" in England. He was recognized alongside other important figures like Isaac Pitman.

In March 1890, the Vegetarian Society honored Davie. They celebrated his 90th birthday and thanked him for his work. Later that year, he attended a big meeting in London. It was the 2nd International Vegetarian Congress.

John Davie passed away in March 1891, when he was 91 years old. His wife died shortly after him. He left behind a legacy as a dedicated activist who worked hard for what he believed in.