WALKER, (1799-1875). An American
economist, born at Woodstock, Conn. From
1820 to 1840 he was engaged in business, retiring
in the latter year from commercial life. In
1842-48 he lectured on political economy at
Oberlin College; in 1853-60 was examiner on
political economy at Harvard; and in 1859-69
lecturer on political economy at Amherst. In
1843 he was delegate to the first international
peace congress at London, and in 1849 delegate
to the peace congress at Paris. He was elected
to several political offices, among them that of
Secretary of State of Massachusetts (1851-53), and Representative in Congress (1862-63). He was a frequent contributor to periodical literature, especially on financial subjects, on which his authority was regarded as of the highest. His principal work was Science of Wealth (1866), a manual of political economy which attained a high degree of popularity.