John Grimes Walker

John Grimes Walker (March 20, 1835 – September 16, 1907) was an admiral in the United States Navy who served during the Civil War. After the war, he served as Chief of the Bureau of Navigation, head of the Lighthouse Board, and commander-in-chief of the Squadron of Evolution and of the North Atlantic Squadron. In retirement, he led commissions to investigate the construction of a Central American canal connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

Early life and career Walker was born in Hillsborough, New Hampshire to Alden and Susan (Grimes) Walker. His mother, Susan, died Oct. 31, 1846 and is buried at the Church Street Cemetery, Hillsborough. His father, Alden, remarried, but young John Walker chose to live on the farm of his grandfather, John Grimes, in nearby Deering, until moving to Burlington, Iowa to live with his uncle, James W. Grimes, a successful attorney and rising politician, who stressed the need for a good education. His Uncle James Grimes was able to get nephew John G. Walker into the Naval Academy at Annapolis,MD in 1850. J.W. Grimes became Iowa's 3rd Governor in 1854, and serve as U.S. Senator representing Iowa from 1859 to 1869. John Walkers father, Alden, died in 1858 in Grafton, Vt., and is buried at the Village cemetery there.

Walker was appointed a midshipman on October 5, 1850, and graduated at the head of his class at the Naval Academy in 1856. His training at sea was aboard in the Pacific Squadron.

Post-Civil War service From 1865 to 1866, Walker commanded the steamer in the Brazil Squadron.

Walker was the subject of a feature article in the September 12, 1891 edition of The New York Times. The article detailed how, as Chief of the Bureau of Navigation Walker gave senior officers assignments beneath their abilities in hopes that they would retire from the Navy sooner and, thereby, enable Walker to get promoted faster.

Flag assignments Promoted to commodore in February 1889, Walker went to sea as an acting rear admiral commanding the Squadron of Evolution (or "White Squadron"), with his flag in . In 1890, he assumed command of the South Atlantic Squadron. From September 1892 to June 1893, Walker served as commander-in-chief of the North Atlantic Squadron. From 1893 to 1894, he was a member of the Board of Inspection and Survey. In 1895, he took the White Squadron to Hawaii when a coup d'etat posed a threat to American interests. He received a commendation for his attitude of watchful waiting and his squadron's posture of readiness to respond to a possible emergency.

Upon his return to shore duty in 1896, he headed the Lighthouse Board and concurrently chaired the committee investigating locations for deep-water harbors in southern California.

Post-Navy activities In 1866, Walker married Rebecca White Pickering, daughter of Henry White Pickering of Boston and Salem, Massachusetts.

Soon after retiring as a rear admiral in 1897, Walker was chosen to serve as President of the Nicaragua Canal Commission. Two years later, in 1899, he was appointed President of the congressional Isthmian Canal Commission to look into possible routes for a canal across the Central American isthmus.

Admiral Walker was a veteran companion of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States and the Naval Order of the United States. He was also a hereditary companion of the Military Order of Foreign Wars.

Rear Admiral Walker died at the age of 72, at Ogunquit, Maine. His remains were cremated and then interred at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors on September 21, 1907.

Namesakes Two destroyers have been named in his honor.

Dates of rank Acting midshipman – 5 October 1850 Midshipman – 11 December 1852 Passed midshipman – 20 June 1856 Master – 22 January 1858 Lieutenant – 23 January 1858 Lieutenant commander – 16 July 1862 Commander – 25 July 1866 Captain – 25 June 1877 Commodore – 12 February 1889 Rear admiral – 23 January 1894 Retired list – 20 March 1897

Gallery