John Walker (Australian politician)

John Walker (1799 – 27 February 1874) was an Australian politician, member of the Tasmanian Legislative Council.[1]

Walker was born in Ednam, Roxburghshire, Scotland, son of Robert Thomas Walker.[2] John Walker emigrated to Van Diemen's Land (later renamed Tasmania) in 1822, and carried on business as a miller in Hobart for many years.[1] He was appointed one of the Commissioners for Hobart before the establishment of a Municipal Council for the city.[1] He was also a merchant and whaler.

In 1851 Walker was elected a member of the old unicameral Legislative Council for Brighton, and on the introduction of free institutions was elected on 6 October 1856[3] for the now upper house Legislative Council as member for Hobart. He was a member, without office, of Francis Smith's Ministry from 12 May 1857 to 1 November 1860.[1]

Walker died in Hobart on 27 February 1874.[1] Walker twice married: firstly to Janet Glass in 1827; they had several children, all of whom except one survived him; and secondly to Julia Speke née Coverdale in 1858, the widow of Charles Bradbury.[2] His grandson was Alan Cameron Walker.

  1. ^ a b c d e Mennell, Philip (1892). "Walker, Hon. John" . The Dictionary of Australasian Biography. London: Hutchinson & Co – via Wikisource.
  2. ^ a b Wolfhagen, Waldemar. "Walker, John (1799–1874)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISBN 978-0-522-84459-7. ISSN 1833-7538. OCLC 70677943. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
  3. ^ "Walker, John". Members of the Parliament of Tasmania. Retrieved 24 July 2022.