Robert J. Walker

Robert John Walker (July 19, 1801 – November 11, 1869) was an American lawyer, economist, and politician of the Democratic Party. He was a senator from Mississippi from 1835 to 1845. He then became the Secretary of the Treasury from 1845 to 1849 under President James K. Polk. He was the Territorial Governor of Kansas in 1857.

Robert Walker
Governor of Kansas
In office May 27, 1857 – December 15, 1857
Preceded by	John W. Geary
Succeeded by	James W. Denver
18th United States Secretary of the Treasury
In office March 8, 1845 – March 5, 1849
President	James K. Polk Zachary Taylor
Preceded by	George M. Bibb
Succeeded by	William M. Meredith
United States Senator from Mississippi
In office March 4, 1835 – March 5, 1845
Preceded by	George Poindexter
Succeeded by	Joseph W. Chalmers
Personal details
Born	Robert John Walker (1801-07-19)July 19, 1801 Northumberland, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	November 11, 1869(1869-11-11) (aged 68) Washington, D.C., U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Mary Bache
Children	5, including Duncan
Education	University of Pennsylvania (BA)

Career

Secretary of the Treasury (1845-1849)

Bureau of Engraving and Printing portrait of Walker as Secretary of the Treasury

President James K. Polk asked Walker to become Secretary of the Treasury. Walker was the Treasury Secretary during all of Polk's presidency (from March 8, 1845 to March 5, 1849).

As Treasury Secretary, Walker was responsible for financing the Mexican–American War. However, he did not do a very good job.^[1]

In 1853, President Franklin Pierce asked Walker if he wanted to be the United States Minister to China, but Walker refused.^[2]

Kansas Territorial Governor (1857)

He was chosen to be governor of Kansas Territory on May 27, 1857 by President James Buchanan. However, he quit in December 1857 because he opposed with the pro-slavery Lecompton Constitution.^[3] In a resignation letter to Secretary of State Lewis Cass dated December 15, 1857, Walker said he quit because of massive voting fraud in the Lecompton Constitution and improper political pressure from the Pierce administration.

Death and legacy

Walker died in Washington, D.C., on November 11, 1869. He is buried at Washington's Oak Hill Cemetery. His son-in-law Benjamin H. Brewster became Attorney General under President Chester A. Arthur. Many of his papers are held by the University of Pittsburgh. The university has put them online.^[4]