He was born in Kill, County Kildare. His father, John Davys, was a small landowner who seems to have lacked influential connections. Elrington Ball suggests that Paul's rise to prominence was largely due to his first marriage to Margaret Ussher, granddaughter of the highly respected official Sir William Ussher of Donnybrook, Clerk of the Privy Council. His second marriage to Anne Parsons made him a member of an influential New English family.
Career
Paul succeeded his first wife's grandfather as Clerk of the Council, partly due to the premature death of his own father-in-law Arthur Ussher, who as Deputy Clerk would no doubt have succeeded his father, but who drowned trying to ford the River Dodder during the great floods of 1628. Paul seems to have been an able and conscientious official; Ball refers to his "long and painful service" as Clerk. He was elected to the Irish House of Commons as member for Enniskillen in the Parliament of 1634, and for Donegal County in that of 1639. He was in favour with the Lord Deputy of Ireland, Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford; more importantly, he gained the lifelong friendship of the Duke of Ormonde, who did all in his power to advance the career first of Davys, and later of his sons. After the downfall of the Royalist cause in Ireland, Davys might have been expected to retire into private life. In fact he seems to have retained some political influence under the Commonwealth, and is said to have been close to Henry Cromwell. Rumours about his loyalty were certainly widespread enough for his friend Ormonde, at the Restoration, to defend Davys as one who had "ever been loyal to the true cause". These doubts about his loyalty did not hinder his further career: he sat in the House of Commons for Kildare County in the Parliament of 1661, received large grants of land, mainly in County Donegal, and became a member of the Privy Council. No doubt through Ormonde's influence he became Secretary of State. There appear to have been complaints about his slowness and inefficiency, since Ormonde, rather defensively, argued that his "old-fashioned" ways were suited to Ireland. He retained office until his death in 1672; in his last years he was probably living at his son William's house at St. Catherine's Park, Leixlip. He died on 7 December 1672, and was buried in St. Audoen's Church, Dublin.
Family
By Margaret Ussher, who died in 1633, he was the father of:
Elrington Ball describes him as a "remarkable man" who held office during forty turbulent years and was able to retain the confidence of each successive Government.
