1799-1875, American economist, b. Woodstock, Conn. He became a merchant in Boston but retired from business in 1840. He lectured (1842-48) on political economy at Oberlin College , which he was influential in founding. He was a delegate to the peace congresses at London (1843) and Paris (1849). An abolitionist, he was elected secretary of state (1851-53) for Massachusetts by the Free-Soil party, and filled out a term (1862-63) as U.S. Congressman. Walker taught economics at Harvard (1853-60) and Amherst (1859-69). His Science of Wealth (1866) was long a popular economics textbook.
