Walker, Samuel Hamilton, 1817-1847

Samuel Hamilton Walker was born at Toaping Castle, Prince Georges County, Maryland, on February 24, 1817. In May 1836 he joined the Washington City Volunteers and served in the Florida and Seminole wars. Following the war he and his brother Charles started a business in Iola, Florida. In 1840 Walker returned to Washington where he published a pamphlet critical of the conduct of the Army and certain officers during the Seminole wars.

Walker then left Washington and came to Texas in January 1842. He fought against the Mexican invasion of Texas in 1842 and joined the Somervell expedition. He was captured at Mier in December 1842, imprisoned in Mexico, and was a participant in the black bean episode. After his release, he served as a Texas Ranger with John Coffee Hays, becoming a captain of a company in the First Texas Mounted Rifles.

When the Mexican War began, Walker was lieutenant colonel of the First Texas Mounted Rifles. He joined General Zachary Taylor's army on the Rio Grande in April 1846 and participated in the battles of Resaca de la Palma and Palo Alto. Walker performed valuable scouting duty during the summer and fought in the battle of Monterrey in September 1846. He was offered a commission as a captain of Company C, First United States Mounted Rifles, Regular United States Army. He traveled to Washington to accept his commission in late 1846.

He became involved at this time with Samuel Colt, the famous gunsmith, who was designing a new revolver. Colt sought Walker's opinion since the Texas Rangers had been using an early model Colt revolver. Colt also wanted Walker's aid in getting a contract for the new revolvers with the War Department. A contract was signed on January 4, 1847, calling for 1,000 pistols to arm the First United States Mounted Rifles. Walker continued his correspondence with Samuel Colt and made several suggestions for changes in the design. This weapon became known as the Walker-Colt revolver.

Walker returned to the war in Mexico and commanded a company of the First United States Mounted Rifles. He was killed leading a charge at the battle of Huamantla, on October 9, 1847. His body was returned to Texas and buried in San Antonio.