Walker was born near Huntsville, Alabama in 1817, the son of John Williams Walker and Matilda Pope, and a grandson of LeRoy Pope. He was educated by private tutors, then attended universities in Alabama and Virginia. Before reaching the age of 21, he was admitted to the bar. He married Eliza Dickson Pickett on July 29, 1850. He held various offices in Alabama; in 1853, he resigned his position as a circuit court judge in order to focus on his legal practice. He actively promoted secession.[1]
Civil Waredit
Largely on the advice of several of Walker's supporters, including his brother Richard, President Jefferson Davis appointed him to the post of Secretary of War, though Walker was not personally known to Davis. He was energetic and confident in support of the Confederacy, but had no military training. The stress and difficulties of his cabinet position seriously affected his health.[2] In March 1861, the Southern states that had seceded from the Union appointed special commissioners to travel to those other Southern states that had yet to secede. Walker was chosen as the commissioner from Alabama to the Tennessee Secession Convention, where he publicly read Alabama's Articles of Secession and tried to persuade Tennessee politicians to vote to do likewise.
In April 1861, shortly after the Civil War began with the bombardment of Fort Sumter by rebel forces, Walker predicted that Washington, D.C., and Boston would fall to the Confederacy before May 1 of that year. However, this never happened.
Starting in August 1861, Davis encouraged Walker to become a Confederate representative to Europe; Walker did not accept this, but on September 16 he resigned his post. Davis made him a brigadier general in the Confederate States Army, and he commanded the army garrisons in Mobile and Montgomery, Alabama, before resigning in March 1862.[3] He returned to the army in April 1864 to serve as a military judge.
After the war, Walker returned to his legal practice and continued to be interested in politics. He died in 1884 and was buried in Maple Hill Cemetery in Huntsville.
. The Confederate War Department. Archived from the original on 2011-08-08. Retrieved 2011-08-13.
Eicher, John H.; Eicher, David J. (June 2002), Civil War High Commands, Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press (published 2001), ISBN978-0-8047-3641-1
Patrick, Rembert W. (1944). Jefferson Davis and His Cabinet. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press. pp. 104–120.
Sifakis, Stewart (1988), Who Was Who in the Civil War, New York: Facts On File, ISBN978-0-8160-1055-4
Warner, Ezra J. (1959), Generals in Gray: Lives of the Confederate Commanders, Baton Rouge, LA: Louisiana State University Press, ISBN978-0-8071-0823-9
leroy, pope, walker, february, 1817, august, 1884, first, confederate, states, secretary, leroy, walker1st, confederate, states, secretary, warin, office, february, 1861, september, 1861presidentjefferson, davispreceded, byposition, establishedsucceeded, byjud. LeRoy Pope Walker February 7 1817 August 23 1884 was the first Confederate States Secretary of War LeRoy Walker1st Confederate States Secretary of WarIn office February 25 1861 September 16 1861PresidentJefferson DavisPreceded byPosition establishedSucceeded byJudah BenjaminPersonal detailsBorn 1817 02 07 February 7 1817Huntsville Alabama U S DiedAugust 23 1884 1884 08 23 aged 67 Huntsville Alabama U S Political partyDemocraticAlma materUniversity of Alabama TuscaloosaUniversity of VirginiaMilitary serviceAllegianceConfederate StatesBranch serviceConfederate States ArmyYears of service1861 1862 1864 1865RankBrigadier generalBattles warsAmerican Civil War Contents 1 Early life and career 2 Civil War 3 Post war 4 See also 5 Notes 6 ReferencesEarly life and career editWalker was born near Huntsville Alabama in 1817 the son of John Williams Walker and Matilda Pope and a grandson of LeRoy Pope He was educated by private tutors then attended universities in Alabama and Virginia Before reaching the age of 21 he was admitted to the bar He married Eliza Dickson Pickett on July 29 1850 He held various offices in Alabama in 1853 he resigned his position as a circuit court judge in order to focus on his legal practice He actively promoted secession 1 Civil War editLargely on the advice of several of Walker s supporters including his brother Richard President Jefferson Davis appointed him to the post of Secretary of War though Walker was not personally known to Davis He was energetic and confident in support of the Confederacy but had no military training The stress and difficulties of his cabinet position seriously affected his health 2 In March 1861 the Southern states that had seceded from the Union appointed special commissioners to travel to those other Southern states that had yet to secede Walker was chosen as the commissioner from Alabama to the Tennessee Secession Convention where he publicly read Alabama s Articles of Secession and tried to persuade Tennessee politicians to vote to do likewise In April 1861 shortly after the Civil War began with the bombardment of Fort Sumter by rebel forces Walker predicted that Washington D C and Boston would fall to the Confederacy before May 1 of that year However this never happened Starting in August 1861 Davis encouraged Walker to become a Confederate representative to Europe Walker did not accept this but on September 16 he resigned his post Davis made him a brigadier general in the Confederate States Army and he commanded the army garrisons in Mobile and Montgomery Alabama before resigning in March 1862 3 He returned to the army in April 1864 to serve as a military judge nbsp The original Confederate Cabinet L R Judah P Benjamin Stephen Mallory Christopher Memminger Alexander Stephens LeRoy Pope Walker Jefferson Davis John H Reagan and Robert ToombsPost war editAfter the war Walker returned to his legal practice and continued to be interested in politics He died in 1884 and was buried in Maple Hill Cemetery in Huntsville See also edit nbsp American Civil War portal nbsp Biography portal List of American Civil War generals Confederate Notes edit Patrick 1944 p 105 Patrick 1944 pp 104 106 110 Patrick 1944 p 116 117 References edit Leroy Pope Walker The Confederate War Department Archived from the original on 2011 08 08 Retrieved 2011 08 13 Eicher John H Eicher David J June 2002 Civil War High Commands Stanford CA Stanford University Press published 2001 ISBN 978 0 8047 3641 1 Patrick Rembert W 1944 Jefferson Davis and His Cabinet Baton Rouge Louisiana State University Press pp 104 120 Sifakis Stewart 1988 Who Was Who in the Civil War New York Facts On File ISBN 978 0 8160 1055 4 Warner Ezra J 1959 Generals in Gray Lives of the Confederate Commanders Baton Rouge LA Louisiana State University Press ISBN 978 0 8071 0823 9 Political offices New office Confederate States Secretary of War1861 Succeeded byJudah Benjamin Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title LeRoy Pope Walker amp oldid 1210561859, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
