DAVENANT, CHARLES (1656-1714), English econo mist, eldest son of Sir William Davenant, the poet, was born in London, and educated at Cheam grammar school and Balliol college, Oxford. He was member of parliament successively for St. Ives, Cornwall, and for Great Bedwyn. He held the post of commissioner of excise from 1683 to 1689, and that of inspector general of exports and imports from 1705 till his death in 1714. He was also secretary to the commission appointed to treat for the union with Scotland. His most important works were : Ways and Means of supplying the War (1695) ; An Essay on the East India Trade (1697) ; Two Discourses on the Public Revenues and Trade of England (1698) ; An Essay on the probable means of making the people gainers in the balance of Trade ; A Discourse on Grants and Resumptions and Essays on the Balance of Power (1701) .