Gilbert C. Walker | |
---|---|
Member of the
U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 3rd district | |
In office March 4, 1875 – March 3, 1879 | |
Preceded by | John A. Smith |
Succeeded by | Joseph E. Johnston |
Chairman of the House Committee on Education and Labor | |
In office March 4, 1875 – March 3, 1877 | |
Preceded by | James Monroe |
Succeeded by | John Goode, Jr. |
36th Governor of Virginia | |
In office September 21, 1869 – January 1, 1874 Provisional Governor from September 21, 1869 – January 1, 1870 | |
Lieutenant |
John F. Lewis John Lawrence Marye Jr. |
Preceded by | Henry H. Wells (as Provisional Governor) |
Succeeded by | James L. Kemper |
Personal details | |
Born | Gilbert Carlton Walker August 1, 1833 Binghamton, New York |
Died | May 11, 1885 New York, New York | (aged 51)
Resting place | Spring Forest Cemetery, Binghamton, New York |
Political party | Republican (before 1870) |
Other political affiliations | Democratic (after 1870) |
Spouse | Olive E. Evans (m. 1857-1855, his death) |
Alma mater | Hamilton College |
Profession | Attorney |
Signature | |
Gilbert Carlton Walker (August 1, 1833 – May 11, 1885) was a United States political figure. He served as the 36th Governor of Virginia, first as a Republican provisional governor between 1869 and 1870, and again as a Democrat elected governor from 1870 to 1874. He was the last Republican governor of Virginia until Linwood Holton took office in 1970.
Walker was born in Binghamton, New York [1] on August 1, 1833, [2] the son of Sabinus Walker and Matilda (Galloway) Walker. [2] [a] Walker's parents separated when he was young, and his mother married Donald Grant of Chenango, New York. [7] [8] He attended academies in Delaware, New York and Binghamton, New York, then attended Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts from 1851 to 1852. [2]
In 1854, Walker received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Hamilton College in Clinton, New York. [2] While in college, he became a member of the Sigma Phi fraternity, and he won the college's first prize for declamation during his junior year. [1] He studied law with Judge Horace S. Griswold of Binghamton and was admitted to the bar in 1855. [2] In 1857 he received his Master of Arts degree from Hamilton. [2]
Walker practiced in Owego, New York, from 1855 to 1859, and in Chicago from 1859 to 1864. [2] He moved to Norfolk, Virginia, in 1864 and practiced law. [2] Walker also became involved in finance and served as president of Norfolk's Exchange National Bank. [2] His other business ventures included serving on the board of directors of the American Fire Insurance Company of Norfolk. [2] In 1866, he was an original incorporator of the Norfolk Insurance and Trust Company. [9] Walker was also a director of the Atlantic Iron Works and Dock Company and served as its president from 1866 to 1869. [2] Walker was president of Richmond, Virginia's Granite Insurance Company from 1874 to 1878 and editor and publisher of the Richmond Enquirer from 1874 to 1875. [1]
Walker served as Governor of Virginia from 1869 to 1874. [3] He also served as a Democrat in the Forty-fourth and Forty-fifth Congresses (March 4, 1875 – March 3, 1879). [3] In the Forty-fourth Congress, he was chair of the Committee on Education and Labor. [10] He did not stand for reelection in 1878. [3]
Walker resettled in Binghamton, New York, in 1879 and resumed his legal practice. [2] He moved to New York City in 1881, where he continued practicing law. [2] Walker remained active in business ventures, including serving as president of the New York Underground Railroad Company. [3]
Walker died in New York City on May 11, 1885. [2] He was buried at Spring Forest Cemetery in Binghamton. [3]
In 1857, Walker married Olive E. Evans of Binghamton. [2]