David S. Walker facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
David Shelby Walker
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| 8th Governor of Florida | |
| In office December 20, 1865 – July 4, 1868 |
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| Lieutenant | William W. J. Kelly |
| Preceded by | William Marvin |
| Succeeded by | Harrison Reed |
| Mayor of Tallahassee, Florida | |
| In office 1852 |
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| Preceded by | D. P. Hogue |
| Succeeded by | Richard Hayward |
| Member of the Florida House of Representatives | |
| In office 1848 |
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| Member of the Florida Senate | |
| In office 1845 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | May 2, 1815 Kentucky |
| Died | July 20, 1891 (aged 76) Tallahassee, Florida |
| Political party | Conservative [Democratic] Party Constitutional Unionist Know Nothing<4br />Whig |
| Spouses | Philoclea Alston Elizabeth Duncan |
| Parent | David Walker |
David Shelby Walker (born May 2, 1815 – died July 20, 1891) was the eighth Governor of Florida. He served as governor from 1866 to 1868.
Early Life and Public Service
David S. Walker was born in Logan County, Kentucky. He went to private schools in Kentucky and Tennessee. He also studied law. In 1837, he moved to Florida and settled in Leon County. His father, David Walker, was a well-known politician from Kentucky.
David S. Walker started his political career with the Whig Party. In 1845, he was elected to the first Florida State Legislature. He represented Wakulla and Leon Counties as a senator. Later, in 1848, he was elected to the Florida House of Representatives for Leon County.
From 1849 to 1854, Walker was in charge of public lands and also served as the State Superintendent of Public Instruction. He worked hard to support and promote public schools. Because of his efforts, the first public schools were created in Tallahassee. He also served as the Mayor of Tallahassee.
In 1859, he became a Justice on the Florida Supreme Court. David S. Walker is also famous for starting Tallahassee's first library in the mid-1800s. He used his own money to do this, which was very important because libraries were not usually funded in rural areas back then.
Time as Governor
Before the American Civil War, David S. Walker was part of the Constitutional Union Party. This meant he was against states leaving the United States. However, when Florida decided to leave the Union in 1861, he supported his home state.
After the war ended, Walker was elected governor on November 29, 1865. He ran unopposed, meaning no one ran against him. At that time, newly freed slaves were not allowed to vote in the election. He officially became governor on January 18, 1866.
During his time as governor, Florida was going through a period called Reconstruction. This was when the federal government helped Southern states rejoin the Union. Governor Walker tried to keep things in Florida similar to how they were before the war. He did not want too many changes to the social and political systems.
He did not run for governor again in the 1868 election. This was the first election where African American men were allowed to vote.
After leaving office on July 4, 1868, he went back to working as a lawyer. In 1878, he became a circuit court judge. He held this job until he passed away on July 20, 1891.
Legacy
Tallahassee's first public library is named the David S. Walker Library in his honor.
See also
- List of United States political appointments across party lines
