Served his apprenticeship to Dr Redwood, of Rhymney, and finished his professional training at Guy's Hospital. He settled in Aberdare in 1845, when the population of the town only numbered some 7000 persons, but had increased sevenfold at the time of his death. In 1863 he was appointed Medical Officer of Health of Aberdare, and held the position for forty-four years, during which period sewage and water-supply schemes were carried out and the general sanitary administration of the town was developed. As Surgeon to the Collieries which sprang up during his lifetime (Godley's Ironworks and the Aberdare Steam Coal Collieries) Davies had considerable local reputation, and he lived long enough to see the enormous improvements which were made in surgical practice owing to the introduction of antiseptic methods. He was much interested in the public life of his town, and joined the Volunteers in 1859, being connected with them as Assistant Surgeon of the 3rd Volunteer Battalion Welsh Regiment till the formation of the Territorial Force in 1908. He retired from practice three years before he died at his residence, Bryngolwg, Aberdare, on March 17th, 1910. He was the Nestor of the profession in the South Wales Colliery Districts.