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Joseph Marshall Walker | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 13th Governor of Louisiana | |
| In office January 28, 1850 – January 18, 1853 | |
| Lieutenant | Jean Baptiste Plauché |
| Preceded by | Isaac Johnson |
| Succeeded by | Paul O. Hébert |
| Member of theLouisiana House of Representatives | |
| In office 1822 1832 1836 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1784-07-01)July 1, 1784[1] |
| Died | January 26, 1856(1856-01-26) (aged 71)[1] New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Catherine Carter |
| Children | 12 |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Spain United States |
| Branch/service | Spanish Army Louisiana Militia |
| Years of service | 1812 - 1820 |
| Rank | Brigadier General |
| Battles/wars | |
Joseph Marshall Walker (July 1, 1784 – January 20, 1856) was aLouisianasoldier andpolitician and the13th Governor of Louisiana, from 1850 to 1853.[2] He is best known for being the first Governor inaugurated in the new state capital building in Baton Rouge.[3]
Walker was born in theFrench Quarter ofNew Orleans, Louisiana in July, 1786[4] when Louisiana was a colony ofSpain. Walker was the son of English immigrant Peter Walker and Charlotte Constance Revoil, a second-generationLouisiana creole woman. He married Catherine Carter ofAdams County, Mississippi, in the mid-1810s, and together they had twelve children.[4]
In 1807, Walker went to Mexico and joined the Spanish army, serving as a lieutenant of dragoons, and later becoming master of a military school at Chihuahua.
After the outbreak of theWar of 1812 he returned to New Orleans and enlisted in the Louisiana StateMilitia where he fought against theBritish in theBattle of New Orleans atChalmette, Louisiana.
A member of theDemocratic Party, Walker was first elected to public office in 1820, as a member ofthe House of Representatives of Louisiana.
On January 22, 1822, he was promoted tobrigadier general of the First Brigade of the State Militia, serving concurrently with his role as a member of the state house.
Walker was reelected to the legislature three times—in 1822, 1832, and 1836. He was active in promoting the State Militia, and was credited with improving the organization and discipline of that force.
In 1846 he served as State Treasurer.
In 1849 he ran for Governor, winning against splitWhig opposition from GeneralAlexander De Clouet andDuncan F. Kenner. On 28 January 1850, he became the first governor inaugurated in the new state capital atBaton Rouge.[3]
As governor, he established a freepublic school system forwhite children.
There was widespread opposition to the 1846 StateConstitution, and in 1852, a convention elected to adopt a new one. Walker strongly objected to this document, and, as a result, he subsequently resigned his position the following year, retiring to a familyplantation inRapides Parish.[5] He turned down offers from Democratic Party officials to be their candidate for theUnited States House of Representatives. Joseph Marshall Walker died three years later in 1856 and is buried on his plantation.
| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Democratic nominee forGovernor of Louisiana 1849 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Governor of Louisiana 1850–1853 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
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| National | |
