The Portland daily press., 1897-01-06
DEATH OF GEN. FRANCIS WALKER.
One of the Most Distinguished Political
Economists in the World.

Economists in the World.
4 Boston, January 5.-General Francis
a. Walker, president CT tho Massaehu"
setts Institute Of Technology, died at
his home, 237 Beacon street, about
O'Clock this morning The end was very
sudden, coming with hardly an instant's
warning.
General Walker was in his usual health
yesterday and attended to his duties
dhring the day. He passed the evening
with his family and retired at the usual
hour.
A bout IL. 80 this morning he spoke to
Mrs. Walker, who WAS awake by his slds,
making some casual remark. She
answered him and it was but q law
minutes later when she WAS startled to
notice his breathing was becoming heavy
She spoke to him but received no reply.
AS soon as Mrs. Walker discovered neg
husband was unconscious she aroused
the household. and a messenger was dis
patched for DR.. Cutler, who lives direoJ-
~ across the street.
| The doctor responded as soon as
POSSIBLE, but when he reached the house
General Walker was beyond the reach OF
AID, having passed away SO suddenly
and quietly that the end was hardly sus-
pected.
The cause of General Walkers death
was undoubtedly anoplexy. In addition
4 to widow, General Walker leaves five
children, three sons aud two daughters.
General Walker occupied a high place
in the world as brilliant saYan6,
lits ra taur, educator and soldier. He was
one of the lending statistioians and I'M
don btedly the best known political
economist in America. His reputation
for scholarly attainment was not confined
to hia own country. His work on labor
dispslled many ct the theories OF the Old
time political economists, and was geDer-
ally adopted by the English labor re-
form ers.
General Walker was Rostonian,
having been born here in 1910. Ills
father Amasa Walker, Congressman and
professor, possessed rare Intellectual at
tainments and was distinguished as q
writer on political economy.
When tho civil war began young
Francis, then twsnty-one years old, was
a student In this law office of Deyens and
Eoar. He enl sted for three years OF
the war; and became sergeant major OF
the 18th Massachusetts infantry, passing
through the grades of captain. major and
lieutenant colonel, brevet colonel and
brewer brigadier general CT volunteers
He was one of the rest soldiers that
Massachusetts, sent to the war. He be-
came chief of General Hancock's staff,
although be enlisted as a sergeant. AT
gettysburg ne was lieutenant co.oEel
on Hancocks' staff and afterward was
promoted. He served with distinction in
many battles and was finally taken
prisoner. His sufferings III Libby i'll
| capacitated him far further service after
his release
For thrac years following ths war Cen
eral Walker was a teacher at Wililston
seminary. He was later on the editorial
1eto - bo oI a
was for two years deputy special commits
sioner of United States revenue. He was
superintendent of the United States CEN
aus in 1870 and in 1880. and commissioners
of Indian affairs in lS7l82. From 1878 to
1881 lie was professor of pol teal economy
and history in the Sheffield Scientific
school of Yale college. Since 1881 he has
been president of the Ma saohusetts ms
lstitute Of Technology, where he intro.
ducel the studies of history ami political
economy. He was for two years lecturer
in John Hopkins University, and was fof
a short time university lecturer in polltl-
cal economy ut Harvard University. He
has been president Of the American
Statistical association, and president OF
| the American economic association, was
| chief f the bureau of awards at the
/ Centennial exhibition in 1876. and CONS
missioner from tho United States to the
International None arv Conference in
Paris in 1878. In 1880 he was elected
president of the American Economic
association.
President Walker has received the de-
gree of LII. d. from Amherst, his alma
mater, and Columbia colleges, ard from
Yale Harvard, st. Andrews and Edin-
burg universities.
The International Geographical Con-
oress of Paris i'll 1876 gave him medal
of the first class for his statistical atlas
of the United States. He served rs chief
of awards at the centennial. and in that
year, 1875, published ons of his moss i'm
portant works ''The Wage Questi 3D."