Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-01-06

Passes Away Very Suddenly from Ap-
poplexy at ! A. N Tuesday.
Was a Scholar, Soldier and One Of Best
Known Political Economists.

Boston, Jan. 5.-Gen. Francis A.
Walker, president of the ( Massachu-
sets 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.
Gen. Walker was in his usual health
yesterday, and attended to his duties
during the day. He passed the even
ing with his family and retired at the
usual hour About $780, this morning
he spoke to Mrs. Walker, who was
awake by his side, making some casual
remark. She answered him and it was
but a few 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
her husband was unconscious she
aroused the household, and a messen-
ger was dispatched for DR.. Cutler, who
lives directly across the street Tho
doctor responded as soon as possible
but when he reached the house Gen.
eral Walker was beyond the reach OF
aid, having passed away so suddenly
and quietly that the end was hardly
perceptible. The cause Of his death
was undoubtedly apoplexy
General Walker leaves five children
three sons and two daughters. He oc-
cupied a high place in the world as a
brilliant savant, literateur, educator
and soldier. He was one of the lead
ing statisticians and undoubtedly the
best known political economist in
America. His reputation for scholar
ly attainment was nor confined to his
own country. His work on labor dis
PEELED many of the theories of the old
time political economist, and was gen.
orally adopted by the English labor re-
formers.
Gen. Walker was a Bostonian, hay
ing been born here in 1910. His father
Amasa Walker. congressman and pro-
lessor possessed rare intellectual gifts
and was distinguished as a writer on
political economy. When the Civil wal
began, young Francis. then % years
old. was a student in the law office OF
Devens &c Hoar. He enlisted fol
Three Years. or the War" and be-
came sergeant major of the 18th Mas
sachusetts Infantry. passing through
the grades of captain, major and lieu
tenant colonel, brevet colonel and
brevet brigadier general of volunteers
He was one of the best soldiers that
Massachusetts sent to the war. He be-
came chief of Gen. Hancock's staff.
although he enlisted as sergeant
At Gettysburg he was lieutenant col
onel on Hancock's staff and afterward
was promoted. He served with dis
tinction in many battles and was final
ly taken prisoner. His sufferings in
Libby incapacitated him for further
service after his release.
For three years following the war
General Walker was teacher at Willis
ton Seminary. He was later on the
editorial staff of the Springfield He
publican and was for two years deputy
special commissioner of United States
revenue.
He was superintendent of the United
States census in 1870 and in $780, and
commissioner of Indian affairs 1S71-72.
From 1S7S-1SS1 he was professor of po-
litical economy and history in the
Sheffield Scientific School of Yale Col
lege.
Since 1881 he had been president of
the Massachusetts Institute Of Tech
nology, where he introduced the
studies of history and political econ
omy. He was for two years lecturer
in Johns Hopkins University and was
for a short time university lecturer in
political economy at Harvard Univer-
sity.