| LeRoy Pope Walker | |
|---|---|
| 1st Confederate States Secretary of War | |
| In office February 25, 1861 – September 16, 1861 |
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| President | Jefferson Davis |
| Preceded by | Office instituted |
| Succeeded by | Judah P. Benjamin |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 7, 1817 Huntsville, Alabama, U.S. |
| Died | August 23, 1884 (aged 67) U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Eliza Dickson Pickett |
| Profession | Politician |
| Religion | Presbyterian |
LeRoy Pope Walker (February 7, 1817 – August 23, 1884) was the first Confederate States Secretary of War.
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Walker was born near Huntsville, Alabama in 1817, the son of John Williams Walker and Matilda Pope, and a grandson of LeRoy Pope. He was educated by private tutors, then attended universities in Alabama and Virginia. Before reaching the age of 21, he was admitted to the bar. He held various offices in Alabama; in 1853, he resigned his position as a circuit court judge in order to focus on his legal practice. He actively promoted secession.[1] He married Eliza Dickson Pickett on July 29, 1850.
Largely on the advice of several of Walker's supporters, including his brother Richard, President Davis appointed him to the post of Secretary of War, though Walker was not personally known to Davis. He was energetic and confident in support of the Confederacy, but had no military training. The stress and difficulties of his cabinet position seriously affected his health.[2] In March 1861, the Southern states that had seceded from the Union appointed special commissioners to travel to those other Southern states that had yet to secede. Walker was chosen as the Commissioner from Alabama to the Tennessee Secession Convention, where he publicly read Alabama's Articles of Secession and tried to persuade Tennessee politicians to vote to do likewise.
Starting in August 1861, Davis encouraged Walker to become a Confederate representative to Europe; Walker did not accept this, but on September 16 he resigned his post. Davis made him a brigadier general in the Confederate States Army, commanding army garrisons in Alabama, before resigning in March 1862.[3]
After the war, Walker returned to his legal practice and continued to be interested in politics. He died in 1887 and was buried in Maple Hill Cemetery in Huntsville.[4]
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by (none) |
Confederate States Secretary of War February 25, 1861 – September 16, 1861 |
Succeeded by Judah P. Benjamin |
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