Benjamin Walker (New York)

Benjamin Walker
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 9th district
In office March 4, 1801 – March 3, 1803
Preceded by	Jonas Platt
Succeeded by	Killian Van Rensselaer
Personal details
Born	1753 London, England
Died	January 13, 1818 Utica, New York
Political party	Federalist Party
Residence	Utica, New York
Occupation	Soldier

Captain Benjamin Walker (1753 – January 13, 1818) was a soldier in the American Revolutionary War and later served as a U.S. Representative from New York.

He was born in London, England, where he attended the Blue-Coat School. After immigrating to the United States, he settled in New York City. During the American Revolutionary War, he was an aide-de-camp to General Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben (during this appointment he was reputed to have been the male companion of the Baron)^[1] and subsequently as a member of the staff of General George Washington. Historian William Benemann wrote "Steuben was also attracted to his 'angel' Benjamin Walker, but while Walker held the Baron in high esteem, he does not appear to have been sexually interested." Benemann also wrote, "Walker had no scruples about exploiting the Baron's sexual interest although he had no intention of reciprocating."^[2]

From March 21, 1791 until February 20, 1798, Walker served as a captain and as naval officer of customs at the port of New York. He was moved to Fort Schuyler, now Utica, in New York State, in 1797. He also worked as an agent of the great landed estate of the Earl of Bath.

Walker was elected as a Federalist to the Seventh Congress (March 4, 1801 - March 3, 1803). After his tenure, he declined to be a candidate for renomination in 1802.

Walker died in Utica, New York, on January 13, 1818. He was first interred in the Old Village Burying Ground on Water Street but was exhumed and reinterred in Forest Hill Cemetery, Utica on June 17, 1875.

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

• United States Congress. "Benjamin Walker (id: W000046)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved on 2009-03-04

1. William Benemann, Male-Male Intimacy in Early America: Beyond Romantic Friendships, Haworth Press 2006 ISBN 1-56023-345-1
2. Benemman, pp. 102-03

External links

• Benjamin Walker entry at The Political Graveyard

Benjamin Walker at Find a Grave