Nicholas Flood Davin
Nicholas Flood Davin was a 19th-century journalist born in Ireland who became prominent in both British and Canadian media. He received his early education in England and attended Queen's University, although he left before earning a degree to pursue journalism. Davin worked as a reporter for the Pall Mall Gazette and later as a war correspondent during the Franco-Prussian War. After moving to Canada in 1872, he established the Regina Leader, one of the first conservative newspapers in Regina. Davin gained national attention for his exclusive interview with Louis Riel, conducted under the guise of a priest. His journalistic success propelled him into politics, and he was commissioned to write the "Davin Report," which influenced the establishment of a residential school system for Indigenous peoples in Canada. Despite his professional achievements, Davin's personal life was fraught with controversy, including struggles with alcoholism and a long affair that resulted in two illegitimate children. Following a series of personal and professional setbacks, Davin ultimately took his own life in Winnipeg in 1901.
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Nicholas Flood Davin
Writer
- Born: January 13, 1843
- Birthplace: Kilfinane, County Limerick Ireland
- Died: October 18, 1901
- Place of death: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Biography
Nicholas Flood Davin, a nineteenth century journalist, was born in Ireland. He received his early education in England, where he later attended Queen’s University. He left Queen’s University without a degree to pursue a career in journalism. For five years, he served as a reporter in the gallery of the British House of Commons for the Pall Mall Gazette. During the Franco-Prussian War, he left his position in London in order to work as a front-line war correspondent. After the war, he became the editor of the Belfast Times. In 1872, he was fired from this position and moved to Canada.
In 1882, he settled in Regina, Canada where he started the Regina Leader. This newspaper was one of the first conservative publications in Regina. In 1855, while at the Regina Leader, Davin got his most famous scoop during the trial of Louis Riel. Under the disguise of a priest delivering last rites, Davin obtained access to Riel in his jail cell and conducted an interview. This exclusive interview achieved national recognition for both Davin and the Regina Leader.
Riding on the coat tails of his journalistic success, Davin succeeded was elected as a member of Parliament. At this time, Prime Minister John A. MacDonald commissioned Davin to write a study on the education of Canada’s indigenous peoples. Davin’s research documents were titled Report on Industrial Schools for Indians and Half-Breeds and became known as The Davin Report. The Davin Report led to the establishment of a residential school system in Canada.
Despite his public successes, Davin’s personal life was controversial. He was prone to excessive drinking and would often humiliate himself in public. He further damaged his reputation when he carried on a ten-year affair with a married woman with whom he fathered two illegitimate children. These children were placed in orphanages. In 1895, Davin gave up his mistress and married Eliza Jane Read. He convinced his new wife to raise his illegitimate children, but he was unable to locate his daughter, whose name had been changed at the orphanage. The failure to locate his daughter caused Davin to sink into depression and marked a turning point in his life. His career faltered, and eventually he lost his seat in Parliament and was forced to sell the Regina Leader. In a cloud of depression, Nicholas Flood Davin traveled to Winnipeg, Canada, where he committed suicide in 1901.