James A. Walker
James A. Walker | |
---|---|
James W. Marshall | |
Succeeded by | William F. Rhea |
13th Lieutenant Governor of Virginia | |
In office January 1, 1878 – January 1, 1882 | |
Governor | Frederick W. M. Holliday |
Preceded by | Henry W. Thomas |
Succeeded by | John F. Lewis |
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates from Pulaski County | |
In office December 6, 1871 – January 1, 1874 | |
Preceded by | William J. Wall |
Succeeded by | John B. Alexander |
Personal details | |
Born | James Alexander Walker August 27, 1832 |
Battles/wars | American Civil War |
James Alexander Walker (August 27, 1832 – October 21, 1901) was a Virginia lawyer, politician, and Confederate general during the American Civil War, later serving as a United States Congressman for two terms. He earned the nickname "Stonewall Jim" for his days as commander of the famed Stonewall Brigade. Walker is the first graduate of the Virginia Military Institute (Class of 1852) to serve as Lieutenant Governor of Virginia. He was expelled from the Institute weeks before graduation in 1852 amidst a bitter dispute with then-mathematics professor Thomas Jackson, but was granted his degree in 1872 in recognition of his military service in the American Civil War.
Early life
Walker was born near Mount Meridian in Augusta County, Virginia on August 27, 1832. He attended private schools as a youth and attended the Virginia Military Institute. In 1852, while in the class of Natural and Experimental Philosophy under then-Major Thomas Jackson, Cadet Walker perceived that Jackson was challenging his integrity. He therefore refused to follow a directive of Jackson to sit down and "stop talking" unless Jackson would also stop talking. Jackson excused Walker from class and charged him with disobeying an order. Cadet Walker, a cadet officer who would have graduated in only weeks, challenged Jackson to a duel to defend his honor. Walker was court-martialed and expelled from the Institute for insubordination to an officer.
Following his expulsion from VMI, Walker studied law at the University of Virginia in 1854 and 1855, where he was a member of Phi Kappa Psi fraternity, before being admitted to the Virginia state bar the following year. He established a successful law practice in Newbern in Pulaski County. In 1858 he married Sarah A. Poage of Augusta County, Virginia. The couple would have six children. He became an attorney for the Commonwealth in 1860.
Civil War
With the outbreak of the Civil War and Virginia's eventual
He led it during the
Postwar career
When the war ended in 1865, Walker returned to his law practice and political career, being elected as a Democrat to the House of Delegates of Virginia in 1871 and 1872. VMI granted him an honorary degree in 1872 in recognition of his Civil War service. Five years later, he was elected the 13th Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, serving from 1878 to 1882 under Governor Frederick W.M. Holliday.
In 1890, Walker was a charter member of The
In 1898, Walker was defeated for re-election by
Death and legacy
Walker died in Wytheville, Virginia on October 21, 1901; and was buried in the town's East End Cemetery. He was the great-grandfather of M. Caldwell Butler.
Walker was the first of two Virginia Military Institute graduates to serve as Lieutenant Governor of Virginia; the second is Ralph Northam, Class of 1981, who went on to serve as the 73rd Governor of Virginia from 2018 to 2022.
See also
- List of American politicians who switched parties in office
- List of American Civil War generals (Confederate)
References
- United States Congress. "James A. Walker (id: W000056)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved on 2008-02-13
- ISBN 978-0-9617256-4-8.
- Eicher, John H., and ISBN 978-0-8047-3641-1.
- OCLC 833588.
- Sifakis, Stewart. Who Was Who in the Civil War. New York: Facts On File, 1988. ISBN 978-0-8160-1055-4.
- ISBN 978-0-8071-0823-9.