Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 10.djvu/313

 WALKER

Vv^ALL

His father was a soldier in the Revolution; judge of the Pennsylvania court of common pleas, errors and appeals and of the U.S. district court. Robert was graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, A.B., 1819, A.M., 1822; studied law with liis father; practised at Pittsburg, Pa., 1822-26, and in Xatcliez, Miss., 1826-57. He was married in 1825, to Mary Blechynded, daughter of Richard Bache, and granddaughter of Benja- min Franklin. In January. 1833, he contributed to the Natchez Journal an argument against se- cession, which was widely circulated. He was elected U.S. senator on the Union ticket in Janu- ary, 1836. and served until 1845, opposing the U.S. bank and a protective tariff; proposing the Homestead bill, and in 1837 introducing and carrying the bill that recognized the independ- ence of Texas. He was appointed secretary of the treasury by President Polk, holding office until 1849; declined the mission to China ten- dered him by President Pierce in 1853, and on April 10. 1857, was commissioned governor of Kansas, wnth Fred P. Stanton of Tennessee as secretary, and was inaugurated. May 27, 1857. The state of Kansas was at this time overrun by pro-slavery agitators from Missouri; the elec- tions were fi'audulent, and a bogus legislature was imposed on the people. Governor Walker rejected the election returns, opposed the Le- compton constitution, and resigning his office in 1858, went before congress and defeated the cor- rupt measures. In April, 1861, he advocated prompt and vigorous measures, in an address de- livered at a mass meeting held at Union Square, New York city. He was connected with James R. Gilmore (q.v.) in publishing the Continental Monthly in 1863; %vas financial agent of the U.S. government in Europe, negotiating sales for $250.- 000,000 of U.S. bonds, 1863-64, and practised law in Washington, D.C. He contributed political articles to the press, and was largely instrumental in procuring the ratification of the Alaska treaty and in securing the passage of the bill for a rail- road to the Pacific. He is the author of pamphlets on the finances of the United States in 1863-64, He died in Washington, D.C. Nov. 11, 1869.

WALKER, William David, first bishop of Northern Dakota and 133d in succession in the American episcopate, was born in New York citj', June 29, 1839. He was graduated from Trinity school in 1855, Columbia college, A.B., 18.59, A.M., 1862, and from the General Theological seminary in 1862. He was ordered deacon in the Church of the Transfiguration, June 29, and or- dained priest in Calvary church, June 29, 1863. He was assistant rector of Calvary church and vicar of Calvary chapel, 1863-83, and was conse- crated missionary bishop of Nortliern Dakota in Calvary church, bee. 20, 1883, by Bishops Clark,

Coxe and Clarkson, assisted by Bishops Little- john, Benjamin H. Paddock, John Adams Pad- dock and Henry Codman Potter. In 1896 he was transferred to the see of Western New York. The honorary degree of D.D. was conferred on him by Racine and by Columbia in 1884, and by Ox- ford, England, in 1894; that of LL.D. by Gris- wold college in 1886. and by Trinity college, Dub- lin, in 1894. and that of D.C.L. by King's college, Nova Scotia, in 1892. He was appointed a mem- ber of the board of Indian commissioners in 1887.

WALKER, William Henry Talbot, soldier, was born in Georgia, Oct. 18, 1816. He was gradu- ated at the U.S. Military academy in 1837; com- missioned 2d lieutenant, Jul}' 31, 1837; served in the Seminole war, being three times wounded at the battle of Okee-cho-bee, Dec. 25, 1837, and was brevetted 1st lieutenant. He was promoted 1st lieutenant, Feb. 1, 1838; resigned, Oct. 31, 1838, and on Nov. 18, 1840, was re-commissioned with his former rank. He served in the Florida war, 1840-42; was promoted captain, Nov. 7, 1845, and served in the war with Mexico, fighting at Vera Cruz, Cerro Gordo, Amazoque. San An- tonio and Churubusco. On Aug. 20. 1847, he was brevetted major, and on Sept. 8, 1847, lieutenant- colonel for Molino del Rev, where he was severely wounded. In 1849 the state of Georgia pre- sented him a sword of honor on which was en- scribed, " Okee-cho-bee; Vera Cruz; Churubusco, and Molino del Rey." He spent a year in Europe, Asia, and Africa for the benefit of his health, and was commandant of cadets at the U.S. Milit- ary academy, 1854-56, being promoted major March 3, 1855. He resigned his commission, Dec, 20, 1860, and entered the army of the Confed- erate States, serving under Beauregard, 1861-63. When Grant Avas threatening Vicksburg, he was sent with his brigade to reinforce Pemberton: joined Joseph E. Johnston at Jackson, Miss., and after the fall of that city, aided Pemberton, avoiding confinement in Vicksburg, by a skilful flank movement. He participated in Johnston's siege of Grant's forces as they lay in their trendies about Vicksburg, and subsequently joined Bragg's army, commanding the reserve corps and fight- ing in the right wing under Polk at Chickamau- ga. He served imder Johnston during Sher- man's march to Atlanta, commanding a division in Hardee's corps, and on the second day of Resaca disputed Lay's ferry with the Union troops. He led his di\ision in Hood's sortie from Atlanta, July 21-22, 1864, and was mortally wounded in the engagement that followed near Decatur, Ga.. dying Jvily 26, 1864.

WALL, Garret Dorset, senator, was born in Middletown. N.J.. March 10, 1783. He was lib- erally educated; began the study of law in Trenton, N.J., in 1798; was licensed as an attor-