Gilbert Carlton Walker (August 1, 1833 – May 11, 1885) was an American politician. 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 Abner Linwood Holton Jr. (September 21, 1923October 28, 2021) was an American politician and attorney. He served as the List of governors of Virginia, 61st governor of Virginia, from 1970 to 1974, and was the first elected History of the United ...

took office in 1970.

Early and family life

Walker was born in

Binghamton, New York Binghamton ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of New York, and serves as the county seat of Broome County. Surrounded by rolling hills, it lies in the state's Southern Tier region near the Pennsylvania border, in a bowl-shaped valley at the c ...

on August 1, 1833, the son of Sabinus Walker and Matilda (Galloway) Walker. Walker's parents separated when he was young, and his mother married Donald Grant of Chenango, New York. He attended academies in Delaware, New York and

, then attended

Williams College Williams College is a Private college, private liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States. It was established as a men's college in 1793 with funds from the estate of Ephraim ...

in Williamstown, Massachusetts from 1851 to 1852. In 1854, Walker received a

Bachelor of Arts A Bachelor of Arts (abbreviated B.A., BA, A.B. or AB; from the Latin ', ', or ') is the holder of a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the liberal arts, or, in some cases, other disciplines. A Bachelor of Arts deg ...

degree from Hamilton College in Clinton, New York. 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. He studied law with Judge Horace S. Griswold of Binghamton and was admitted to the bar in 1855. In 1857 he received his

Master of Arts A Master of Arts ( or ''Artium Magister''; abbreviated MA or AM) is the holder of a master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is usually contrasted with that of Master of Science. Those admitted to the degree have ...

degree from Hamilton.

Legal and business career

Walker practiced in Owego, New York, from 1855 to 1859, and in Chicago from 1859 to 1864. He moved to

Norfolk, Virginia Norfolk ( ) is an independent city (United States), independent city in the U.S. state of Virginia. It had a population of 238,005 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the List of cities in Virginia, third-most populous city ...

, in 1864 and practiced law. Walker also became involved in finance and served as president of Norfolk's Exchange National Bank. His other business ventures included serving on the board of directors of the American Fire Insurance Company of Norfolk. In 1866, he was an original incorporator of the Norfolk Insurance and Trust Company. Walker was also a director of the Atlantic Iron Works and Dock Company and served as its president from 1866 to 1869. Walker was president of

Richmond, Virginia Richmond ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the Commonwealth (U.S. state), U.S. commonwealth of Virginia. Incorporated in 1742, Richmond has been an independent city (United States), independent city since 1871. ...

's Granite Insurance Company from 1874 to 1878 and editor and publisher of the '' Richmond Enquirer'' from 1874 to 1875.

Political career

Walker served as Governor of Virginia from 1869 to 1874. He also served as a Democrat in the Forty-fourth and Forty-fifth Congresses (March 4, 1875 – March 3, 1879). In the Forty-fourth Congress, he was chair of the Committee on Education and Labor. He did not stand for reelection in 1878.

Later years

Walker resettled in

, in 1879 and resumed his legal practice. He moved to

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

in 1881, where he continued practicing law. Walker remained active in business ventures, including serving as president of the New York Underground Railroad Company.

Death and burial

Walker died in New York City on May 11, 1885. He was buried at Spring Forest Cemetery in Binghamton.

Family

In 1857, Walker married Olive E. Evans of Binghamton.

Electoral history

*1869; Walker was elected Governor of Virginia with 54.15% of the vote, defeating fellow Republican Henry H. Wells. *1874; Walker was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives with 55.33% of the vote, defeating Republican Rush Bargess and Independent R.A. Paul. *1876; Walker was re-elected with 53.64% of the vote, defeating Republican Charles S. Mills.

Notes

References

External links

*
A Guide to the Governor Gilbert Carlton Walker Executive Papers, 1869-1873
a
The Library of Virginia
* , - {{DEFAULTSORT:Walker, Gilbert C. 1833 births 1885 deaths American bankers 19th-century American railroad executives Governors of Virginia Hamilton College (New York) alumni New York (state) lawyers Politicians from Chicago Politicians from New York City Virginia lawyers Williams College alumni Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Virginia Democratic Party governors of Virginia Virginia Republicans Republican Party governors of Virginia Lawyers from Chicago 19th-century American lawyers 19th-century members of the United States House of Representatives