Freeman Walker

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 the fictitious main character in David Allan Cates' 2008 novel by the same name. However, there is no connection other than the 19th-century Southern U.S.; the novel is about a young mulatto slave who is manumitted by his white father. (He changes his name from Jimmy Gates to Freeman Walker.)^[3]

Legacy

Walker County, Georgia, was named for Senator Walker.^[4]

References

1. 1820 United States Census, 1820; Richmond County, GA;. Retrieved on 6 March 2016.
2. • Freeman Walker at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
3. Freeman Walker, a novel on Amazon.com
4. "Walker County". Calhoun Times. 1 September 2004. p. 106. Retrieved 26 April 2015.

External links

Freeman Walker at Find a Grave