• Name: Davy, Sir Humphry
• Gender: Male
• Birth Date: 17  December  1778
• Death Date: 29  May  1829
• Occupation: chemist
• Occupation: inventor
• Occupation: baronet

Davy was a self-educated chemist whose first significant essay was published in 1799 by Thomas Beddoes who then took Davy on as an assistant. Davy moved to Bristol with Beddoes where he became great friends with Samuel Taylor Coleridge. He moved to London in 1801 to take up a post at the Royal Institution. He became president of the Royal Society in 1820.

It is certain that Godwin knew Davy, but it is not clear when they first met and it seems likely that there is another Davy in the diary whom we have not successfully distinguished. Godwin's 1796 list suggests he first met Humphry Davy in 1799. This does not seem to be the 17 June meeting with 'Dr Davy' , since Davy's first visit to London was in later November, 1799. So it must be the occasion when Coleridge and Davy call (probably together) on 4 December 1799. This discounts the prior entries (two for 1796, one for 1798 and one for June 1799). It also means that it is possible that this other Davy may account for some of the later entries in the diary. However, at least one of these entries to 'Davy' (on 9 July 1796) is most likely to Jonathan Davey, brother-in-law and business partner of John Cozens, Norwich chemist and druggist (Jewson, Jacobin City, p. 120). This attribution has been made because the meeting on this date takes place in Norwich and Cozens is also present. It is also possible that other earlier entries, and some later ones, may also be to this Davy (who is likely occasionally to visit London), but Godwin does nothing to distinguish them. Because of these uncertainties we have not sought to impose distinction where Godwin makes none.

The most frequent period of contact with Humphrey Davy is around 1801. Godwin also attended Davy’s Royal Institution lectures in 1802 - see also the annotated entries under the heading 'Lectures'.

• MS. Abinger c. 8, fol. 3: 26 September 1802
• DNB
• C.B. Jewson, The Jacobin City: A Portrait of Norwich in its Reaction to the French Revolution1788-1802 (Glasgow: Blackie, 1975).

This table lists the people this person is most frequently noted with in the diary.