Horatio Davies

Lieutenant Colonel Sir Horatio David Davies (1842–18 September 1912) was a London businessman, politician, magistrate and a driving force behind the establishment of Pimm's as an international brandname. Early life Son of H. D. Davies Esq, he was educated as a poor scholar at Edward Alleyn's original 'College of God's Gift in Dulwich', founded in 1619. The school was always known colloquially as 'Dulwich College', and the original buildings where Davies was taught are now The Old College and Almshouses in Dulwich Village. Alleyn's charitable foundation was renamed Alleyn's College of God's Gift in 1857 (when Davies was aged around 15), and was split into Upper and Lower schools. The Upper School moved into new premises in 1870 (formally becoming Dulwich College in 1882), with the Lower School remaining in the old buildings until 1887 when it moved into its new (and current) premises, becoming Alleyn's School. Horatio maintained that, as a small boy, he had seen the bones of the founder of Dulwich College, Edward Alleyn, when his tomb was moved. After completing his education at Dulwich College he was apprenticed as an engraver for seven years, but relinquished the career because it did not seem to afford a wide enough field to his activity and ambition.