Freeman Walker | |
|---|---|
 | |
| United States Senator from Georgia | |
| In office November 6, 1819 – August 6, 1821 | |
| Preceded by | John Forsyth |
| Succeeded by | Nicholas Ware |
| Member of the Georgia House of Representatives | |
| In office 1807-1811 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 25, 1780 Charles City, Virginia |
| Died | September 23, 1827 (aged 46) Augusta, Georgia |
| Political party | Democratic-Republican |
Freeman Walker (October 25, 1780 – September 23, 1827) was a United States Senator from Georgia. Born in Charles City, Virginia, he attended the common schools; in 1797, he moved to Augusta, Georgia.
Walker studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1803, commencing practice in Augusta. He was a member of the Georgia House of Representatives from 1807 to 1811, and was mayor of Augusta in 1818 and 1819. He was elected as a Democratic-Republican to the U.S. Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of John Forsyth, serving from November 6, 1819, to August 6, 1821, when he resigned. At the time of the 1820 census he owned 46 slaves.[1] He was again mayor of Augusta in 1823. Walker died in Augusta in 1827; interment was in the Walker family cemetery.[2]
Freeman Walker's son was Confederate major general William H.T. Walker, who served in the American Civil War.
Popular culture
"Freeman Walker" is a 2008 novel by David Allan Cates, and is also the name of the title character. There is no connection between this fictional character and the historical Walker, though the story is set in the South in the 19th century, and the use of the same name may have been a coincidence. The novel is about a young mixed-race slave who is manumitted by his white father. He changes his name from Jimmy Gates to Freeman Walker because of the imagery the name evokes.[3]
Legacy
Walker County, Georgia, was named for Senator Walker.[4]
References
- ^ 1820 United States Census, United States Census, 1820; Richmond County, GA;. Retrieved on 6 March 2016.
- ^
- United States Congress. "Freeman Walker (id: W000052)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- ^ Freeman Walker, a novel on Amazon.com
- ^ "Walker County". Calhoun Times. 1 September 2004. p. 106. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
External links
Freeman Walker at Find a Grave
| U.S. Senate | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by John Forsyth | U.S. senator (Class 2) from Georgia November 6, 1819 – August 6, 1821 Served alongside: John Elliott | Succeeded by Nicholas Ware |