Ira Davenport (June 28, 1841 – October 6, 1904) was an American businessman, politician and philanthropist. He was most notable for his service in the New York State Senate (1878-1881), as New York State Comptroller (1882-1883), and a member of Congress from New York's 29th congressional district (1885-1889).

Davenport was born in Hornellsville, New York, the son of Ira Davenport (1795-1868) and Lydia Cameron (1800-1842).^[1] His family moved to Bath in 1847,^[1] and Davenport attended Bath's Haverling Academy and the Russell Collegiate School in New Haven, Connecticut.^[2]

Davenport's father owned and operated a large estate and was active in numerous business ventures including stores, farms, lumber, freight transportation, and real estate speculation.^[1] After his father's death, Davenport took over management of these enterprises.^[1]

He was a member of the New York State Senate (27th D.) from 1878 to 1881, sitting in the 101st, 102nd, 103rd and 104th New York State Legislatures.^[3] He was New York State Comptroller from 1882 to 1883, elected in 1881, but defeated for re-election in 1883 by Democrat Alfred C. Chapin.^[3]

Davenport was a member of the 49th and 50th United States Congresses, holding office from March 4, 1885 to March 3, 1889.^[3] He was the Republican candidate for Governor of New York in the 1885 election, and was defeated by Democrat David B. Hill.^[3]

Davenport died in Bath on October 6, 1904.^[4] He was buried at the Davenport Family Cemetery in Bath.^[5]

On April 27, 1887 in Kingston, New York, Davenport married Katherine Lawrence Sharpe (1860-1945), the daughter of George H. Sharpe.^[1] She was the granddaughter of Abraham Bruyn Hasbrouck, great-granddaughter of Abraham J. Hasbrouck and a descendant of Louis DuBois.^[6] They had no children.^[4]

The Davenport family's charitable donations included founding a home for orphaned girls, which was financed by the senior Ira Davenport and his brother Charles, and supported by Ira Davenport Jr.^[1] Once closed after 94 years of operation, the orphanage's assets endowed Bath's Ira Davenport Memorial Hospital, which was named after the senior Ira Davenport.^[7] The younger Ira Davenport was a founder of the Bath Soldiers' and Sailors' Home and the town's public library.^[8] From 1906 to 1999 (when a new facility opened), the library was named for Ira Junior. The Davenports also made substantial contributions to fund Bath's monumental First Presbyterian Church, with its Tiffany sanctuary. A small Davenport Park in Bath is named for the family, and a squash court at Amherst College is named for Ira Junior's brother John.^[9]