John Williams Walker
John Williams Walker | |
---|---|
William Kelly | |
Personal details | |
Born | Amelia County, Virginia | August 12, 1783
Died | April 23, 1823 Huntsville, Alabama | (aged 39)
Political party | Democratic-Republican |
John Williams Walker (August 12, 1783 – April 23, 1823) was an American politician, who served as the
, the first senator elected by that state.Life and career
Walker was born August 12, 1783, in
In 1808, Walker married Matilda Pope, daughter of LeRoy Pope and Judith Sale, and in 1810, he followed his father-in-law to settle in the new town of Huntsville, Mississippi Territory (now Alabama), and there began the practice of law.[2]
Upon the formation of the Alabama Territory in 1817, Walker served as a representative from Madison County to the first territorial legislature in 1818. In the second session, he served as speaker. In 1819, he was president of the convention that framed Alabama's first constitution, which enabled Alabama's admission to the United States.[3]
On October 28, 1819, Walker was elected by an almost unanimous vote of the state legislature as the first United States senator from Alabama. He served from December 14, 1819, until his resignation on December 12, 1822, on account of his failing health. He died in Huntsville on April 23, 1823, and is buried in Maple Hill Cemetery. Walker County, Alabama, established December 20, 1824, is named in his honor.[4]
Walker was the father of
Notes
- ^ Owen, 1716-1717. Owen gives a lengthy account of Walker's ancestry.
- ^ Owen, 1716-1717.
- ^ Owen, 1717; House Journal, First Territorial Session Archived 2006-04-05 at the Wayback Machine, 4 Archived 2006-04-05 at the Wayback Machine; House Journal, Second Territorial Session Archived 2006-04-05 at the Wayback Machine, 4 Archived 2006-04-05 at the Wayback Machine.
- ISBN 0-8173-0410-X
- ^ Owen, 1717.
- ^ "John Walker Fearn - People - Department History - Office of the Historian".
References
- Owen, Thomas McAdory, History of Alabama and Dictionary of Alabama Biography. Vol. IV. Chicago: S. J. Clarke, 1921. Reprinted with an introduction by Milo B. Howard, Jr. Spartanburg, SC: Reprint Company, 1978.
- Alabama Territory. Journal of the House of Representatives of the Alabama Territory, First Session, First General Assembly, February 1818. St. Stephens, Alabama Territory: Thomas Eastin, 1818. Full text online at website of Alabama Legislature.
- Alabama Territory. Journal of the House of Representatives of the Alabama Territory, Second Session, First General Assembly, November 1818. St. Stephens, Alabama Territory: Thomas Eastin, 1818. Full text online at website of Alabama Legislature.
- State of Alabama. Journal of the House of Representatives of the General Assembly of the State of Alabama, First Annual Session, 1819. Cahawba, Alabama: State Press, 1820. Full text online at website of Alabama Legislature.
- United States Congress. "John Williams Walker (id: W000061)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.