John Williams Walker

John Williams Walker ( born August 12, 1783 in Amelia County, Virginia; † April 23, 1823 in Huntsville, Alabama ) was an American politician and represented as the first elected U.S. Senator of the State of Alabama this. He belonged to the Democratic- Republican Party.

Career

Walker attended the Willington Academy of Dr. Moses Waddel near Petersburg, Georgia, where he received his diploma in 1806. He then went to the College of New Jersey, now Princeton University, where he graduated in 1809. He then studied law and was admitted as a lawyer in St. Petersburg. Walker married in 1808 Matilda Pope, daughter of LeRoy Pope and Judith sale. Then he followed his father to the newly founded city of Huntsville in the Mississippi Territory (now Alabama) and began to practice law there.

After the formation of the Alabama Territory 1817 Walker 1818 worked as a deputy from Madison County in the first territorial parliament. In his second term, he served already as Speaker. In 1819 he was Chairman of the State Constitutional Convention, which adopted the first Constitution of Alabama, which it Alabama allowed the admission to the United States. On October 28, 1819 Walker was elected almost unanimously by the State Parliament for the first U.S. Senator from Alabama. This office he held from December 14, 1819 until his resignation due to his failing health on 12 December 1822. He died on April 23, 1823 in Huntsville, Madison County, Alabama. He was buried in the Maple Hill Cemetery.

Honors

Founded on December 20, 1824 Walker County, Alabama was named after him.

Family

Walker was the father of LeRoy Pope Walker, Secretary of War of the Confederate States of America and Brigadier General; Richard Wilde Walker, Confederate Senator of the State of Alabama; Percy Walker, U.S. Rep. of the State of Alabama; as well as several other children. He was also the grandfather of Richard Wilde Walker, Jr., Judge of the Alabama State Supreme Court and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.