James Walker (Harvard)
Encyclopedia
James Walker was a Unitarian minister, professor, and President of Harvard College
from February 10, 1853, to January 26, 1860.
Walker was born to John and Lucy (Johnson) Walker in Woburn, Massachusetts
(now in Burlington). From 1801-1810 he attended Lawrence Academy
, graduated in 1814 from Harvard, taught for one year at the Phillips Exeter Academy
, and returned to study at the Harvard Divinity School
(class of 1817), after which he served for twenty years as the Unitarian minister of Harvard Church in Charlestown, Massachusetts
. In 1829 Walker married Catherine Bartlett (1798-1868); they had no children.
In 1838, Walker was appointed Harvard's Alford Professor of Natural Religion, Moral Philosophy, and Civil Polity, which position he held until 1853, when he was elected president of the college. During his administration, music was added to Harvard's curriculum. Walker also served as a Fellow of Harvard College (1834-1853) and a member of its Board of Overseers (1825-1836, 1864-1874).
Harvard College
Harvard College, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of two schools within Harvard University granting undergraduate degrees...
from February 10, 1853, to January 26, 1860.
Walker was born to John and Lucy (Johnson) Walker in Woburn, Massachusetts
Woburn, Massachusetts
Woburn is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA. The population was 38,120 at the 2010 census. Woburn is located north of Boston, Massachusetts, and just south of the intersection of I-93 and I-95.- History :...
(now in Burlington). From 1801-1810 he attended Lawrence Academy
Lawrence Academy at Groton
Lawrence Academy at Groton, , is a co-educational preparatory school located in Groton, Massachusetts, in the United States...
, graduated in 1814 from Harvard, taught for one year at the Phillips Exeter Academy
Phillips Exeter Academy
Phillips Exeter Academy is a private secondary school located in Exeter, New Hampshire, in the United States.Exeter is noted for its application of Harkness education, a system based on a conference format of teacher and student interaction, similar to the Socratic method of learning through asking...
, and returned to study at the Harvard Divinity School
Harvard Divinity School
Harvard Divinity School is one of the constituent schools of Harvard University, located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in the United States. The School's mission is to train and educate its students either in the academic study of religion, or for the practice of a religious ministry or other public...
(class of 1817), after which he served for twenty years as the Unitarian minister of Harvard Church in Charlestown, Massachusetts
Charlestown, Massachusetts
Charlestown is a neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, United States, and is located on a peninsula north of downtown Boston. Charlestown was originally a separate town and the first capital of the Massachusetts Bay Colony; it became a city in 1847 and was annexed by Boston on January 5, 1874...
. In 1829 Walker married Catherine Bartlett (1798-1868); they had no children.
In 1838, Walker was appointed Harvard's Alford Professor of Natural Religion, Moral Philosophy, and Civil Polity, which position he held until 1853, when he was elected president of the college. During his administration, music was added to Harvard's curriculum. Walker also served as a Fellow of Harvard College (1834-1853) and a member of its Board of Overseers (1825-1836, 1864-1874).