John Walker (politician)
Encyclopedia
John Walker was a public official from Virginia
.
Walker was born in Virginia, the son of Dr. Thomas Walker
. He received private education before attending the College of William and Mary
, which he graduated from in 1764. He was a neighbor and classmate at William and Mary of Thomas Jefferson and they remained close friends until the elections of 1804-1805. In 1774 he replaced his father as a representative of the House of Burgesses
. He was in the Continental Army
, serving in 1777 as an aide-de-camp
to General George Washington
, holding the rank of colonel. In 1780, he was elected as a delegate to the Continental Congress
. He then studied law. When William Grayson
died in 1790, Walker was appointed to the United States Senate
to serve from March 31 to November 9 of that year, when a successor was elected by the Virginia General Assembly
.
In 1804 he wrote a statement to his friend and Thomas Jefferson
opponent, General Henry "Lighthorse" Lee, stating that in 1768, when he had to travel to Fort Stanwix, he had asked Jefferson his neighbor to look after his family. He claimed beginning then and until 1779 Thomas Jefferson made unwanted advances to his wife Betsy.
Walker died in 1809.
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
.
Walker was born in Virginia, the son of Dr. Thomas Walker
Thomas Walker (explorer)
Dr. Thomas Walker was a physician and explorer from Virginia who led an expedition to what is now the region beyond the Allegheny Mountains area of British North America in the mid-18th century...
. He received private education before attending the College of William and Mary
College of William and Mary
The College of William & Mary in Virginia is a public research university located in Williamsburg, Virginia, United States...
, which he graduated from in 1764. He was a neighbor and classmate at William and Mary of Thomas Jefferson and they remained close friends until the elections of 1804-1805. In 1774 he replaced his father as a representative of the House of Burgesses
House of Burgesses
The House of Burgesses was the first assembly of elected representatives of English colonists in North America. The House was established by the Virginia Company, who created the body as part of an effort to encourage English craftsmen to settle in North America...
. He was in the Continental Army
Continental Army
The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
, serving in 1777 as an aide-de-camp
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
to General George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
, holding the rank of colonel. In 1780, he was elected as a delegate to the Continental Congress
Continental Congress
The Continental Congress was a convention of delegates called together from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the American Revolution....
. He then studied law. When William Grayson
William Grayson
William Grayson was a soldier, lawyer, and statesman from Virginia. He was one of the first two U.S. Senators from Virginia, and belonged to the Anti-Federalist faction.-Biography:...
died in 1790, Walker was appointed to the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
to serve from March 31 to November 9 of that year, when a successor was elected by the Virginia General Assembly
Virginia General Assembly
The Virginia General Assembly is the legislative body of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the oldest legislative body in the Western Hemisphere, established on July 30, 1619. The General Assembly is a bicameral body consisting of a lower house, the Virginia House of Delegates, with 100 members,...
.
In 1804 he wrote a statement to his friend and Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
opponent, General Henry "Lighthorse" Lee, stating that in 1768, when he had to travel to Fort Stanwix, he had asked Jefferson his neighbor to look after his family. He claimed beginning then and until 1779 Thomas Jefferson made unwanted advances to his wife Betsy.
Walker died in 1809.