Walker, James, 1794-1874

James Walker (1794-1874) was born in Woburn, Massachusetts, and graduated from Harvard College in 1814 and Harvard Divinity School in 1817. He was President of Harvard University from February 10, 1853, to January 26, 1860. He served as a Fellow of Harvard University from 1834 to 1853 and as a member of the Board of Overseers from 1825 to 1836 and again from 1864 to 1874. From 1838 to 1853, he served the University as the Alford Professor of Natural Religion, Moral Philosophy and Civil Polity while also acting as Preacher of the College. Walker was also a leader of the Unitarian movement and one of the founders of the American Unitarian Association. He was an editor of The Christian Examiner from 1831 to 1859, and he served as a Unitarian minister for the Harvard Church in Charlestown, Massachusetts, for 20 years. His most important work was The Philosophy of Man's Spiritual Nature in Regard to the Foundation of Faith (1834). Following his death in 1874, his library and the bulk of his estate was bequeathed to the Harvard College Library.

From the guide to the Correspondence, 1815-1859., (Andover-Harvard Theological Library, Harvard Divinity School)

Professor and President of Harvard.

From the description of Autograph letter signed : Sparks Street [Cambridge, Mass.], to Rev. Dr. [Andrew Preston] Peabody, 1865 Nov. 30. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 751998826

James Walker, Unitarian minister, Alford Professor of Natural Religion, Moral Philosophy, and Civil Polity at Harvard, and president of Harvard, 1853-1860.

From the description of Letters, 1858. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122403268

James Walker (1794-1874) was President of Harvard University from February 10, 1853 to January 26, 1860. He was appointed the Alford Professor of Natural Religion, Moral Philosophy, and Civil Polity in 1838, serving until 1853. Walker also acted as the college preacher, was a Unitarian minister, and religious philosopher.

From the description of Papers of James Walker, 1826-1872. (Harvard University). WorldCat record id: 77072436

President of Harvard College.

From the description of Autograph letter signed : Cambridge, 1858 Apr. 21. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270586323

Clergyman and educator.

From the description of James Walker correspondence, 1829 November 29. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 70981294

James Walker served as President of Harvard University, 1853-1860.

The Woodbury addressed in the note is possibly Augustus Woodbury, an 1849 Harvard Divinity School graduate, who was given an honorary AM in 1866.

From the description of Note from James Walker to Rev. Mr. Woodbury declining a meeting, Nov. 7, 1860. (Harvard University). WorldCat record id: 77067927

James Walker served as President of Harvard University, 1853-1860.

John Hoag Dillingham earned his Harvard AB in 1862.

From the description of Letter of recommendation from James Walker "to the Board of Education" in reference to a scholarship for John Hoag Dillingham, March 22, 1859. (Harvard University). WorldCat record id: 77067925

James Walker (1794-1874) was President of Harvard University from February 10, 1853 to January 26, 1860. Walker was also a Unitarian minister and religious philosopher.

James Walker was born to John Walker and Lucy (Johnson) Walker on August 16, 1794 in what was then Woburn, Massachusetts (later to become a part of Burlington ). Walker attended the Lawrence Academy in Groton, Massachusetts (1807-1810) and graduated from Harvard University in 1814. After graduation, Walker taught for one year at the Phillips Exeter Academy and then returned to Harvard University to study at the Divinity School (A.M. 1817).

Walker spent the next twenty years as a Unitarian minister for the Harvard Church in Charlestown, Massachusetts. A well respected preacher, Walker became a leader in the Unitarian movement. He helped organize the American Unitarian Association (1825), contributed to American Unitarian Tracts, and edited the Unitarian movement's journal, the Christian Examiner, from 1831 to 1839. In his writings, Walker discussed various philosophical questions involving ethical theory, natural religion, and phrenology. His most important work was The Philosophy of Man's Spiritual Nature in Regard to the Foundation of Faith (1834), a combination of several philosophical arguments supporting the existence of God.

Walker married in 1829 to Catherine Bartlett (1798-1868). They had no children.

Walker was a Fellow of Harvard University (1834-1853) and a member of the Board of Overseers (1825-1836, 1864-1874). He was appointed the Alford Professor of Natural Religion, Moral Philosophy, and Civil Polity in 1838, serving until 1853. He also acted as the college preacher, speaking in the college chapel.

In 1853, Walker was elected President of Harvard University. His administration of the school was uneventful and no great reforms were instituted by him. The only new subject added to the course curriculum was music. Evening prayers were discontinued in 1855, the Appleton Chapel was completed in 1858, and Boylston Hall was built in 1857. Suffering from various infirmities, Walker resigned in 1860.

After retiring from Harvard University, Walker spent his time writing, lecturing, and preaching. He devoted his studies to philosophy and literature. When the American Civil War started, Walker gave speeches in support of the Union cause.

Walker died on December 23, 1874. At his death, he left his books and the bulk of his estate, $15,000, to the Harvard College Library and a personal reputation of modesty and good humor.

From the guide to the Papers of James Walker, 1826-1872., (Harvard University Archives)