 Davidson-Houston was chief secretary, Nyasaland (1927–1930), and was twice acting governor, Nyasaland.Davidson-Houston married Annie Henrietta, oldest daughter of land agent Colonel Edmond Langley Hunt, C.M.G., of Curragh Bridge House, County Limerick (of a landed gentry family of Friarstown and Ballysinode), and they had two sons.He retired in 1930.