(Davys). Born circa 1550 in Sandridge; died Dec. 29, 1605, near Malacca. English seafarer.

Davis made three voyages (1585-87) to search for the Northwest Passage from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific, but he did not succeed in finding a route. Davis discovered the strait west of Greenland which was named after him and explored the western coast of Greenland (up to 73° N lat.) and the eastern coast of Labrador. Davis commanded a ship in the expedition of the English corsair T. Cavendish in 1591-92, during which he discovered some of the Falkland Islands.