Researching David Walker

The Appeal brought attention to the abuses and inequities of slavery and the responsibility of individuals to act according to religious and political principles. At the time, some people were aghast and fearful of the reaction that the pamphlet would provoke. Southern citizens were particularly upset with Walker's viewpoints and as a result there were laws banning circulation of "seditious publications" and North Carolina's "legislature enacted the most repressive measures ever passed in North Carolina to control slaves and free blacks".

His son, Edward G. Walker, was an attorney and in 1866, was one of the first two black men elected to the Massachusetts State Legislature.

Walker was born in Sudbury, Ontario. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Carleton University (1970), a Master of Arts from Queen's University (1974), and a Ph.D. from McMaster University (1976). He was a professor of Political Science at the University of Winnipeg in Manitoba from 1974 to 1988, and was also an adjunct professor at the University of Manitoba from 1977 to 1988. Walker was a partner in Walker-Zimmerman Consultants from 1978 to 1985, and served as president of West-Can Consultants Ltd. from 1978 to 1993. From 1985 to 1987, he was research director for the Angus Reid polling firm.

He campaigned for the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba in the 1977 provincial election, but finished second against former Progressive Conservative leader Sidney Spivak in the upscale constituency of River Heights. Walker worked as campaign manager to Liberal candidate Lloyd Axworthy in the 1979 and 1984 federal elections (Globe and Mail, 30 April 1979 and 24 August 1984), and worked as an adviser to Axworthy on Via Rail issues in the early 1980s (Globe and Mail, 10 January 1985).

In 2007, Walker was commissioned by the UK private equity industry to produce guidelines for disclosure and transparency in private equity. On 9 February 2009, he was appointed to lead a government enquiry into banks' corporate governance; the appointment was criticised. On 9 August 2012, he was appointed Chairman of Barclays effective 1 November.

On 1 July 2015, Sir David Walker was appointed to global investment manager, Winton Capital Group, as its non-executive chairman to support the group’s ambition of becoming a global institutional asset-management group.

Born in Loddon, Norfolk, Walker began his cricket career with Uppingham XI topping the batting averages in his three seasons (1930-1932) with them.

At this time Walker also played for Norfolk, in his second match scoring 73 not out against Kent Second XI in the Minor Counties Championship, the innings was the highest for Norfolk that season. He scored his maiden century for Norfolk two seasons later against the same opposition. Walker continued to play for Norfolk until the Second World War, in nine seasons scoring 4034 runs at an average of 62, seven times he topped the County averages and three times heading the Minor Counties Competition's. His highest score came in 1939 when he made an innings of 217 against Northumberland, he shared in a Minor Counties record first-wicket partnership of 323 with Harold Theobald.

While attending Brasenose College, Oxford, Walker played 34 first-class matches for the University team between 1933 and 1935, scoring 1799 runs at 30.49 with two centuries. The first came against Gloucestershire in only his second appearance, the second against Worcestershire in 1934. He was appointed captain of the team in 1935, his highest score of that season came against the touring South Africans, he scored 83 having shared in a 198 run stand with Mandy Mitchell-Innes.

After he left Oxford, Walker taught at Harrow School, where he was master in charge of cricket.

Born in Toronto, Ontario, he was educated at Jarvis Collegiate Institute, the University of Toronto and Osgoode Hall Law School. He was called to the Ontario Bar in 1931.

He was first elected to the House of Commons of Canada for the Toronto riding of Rosedale in the 1957 election after first losing the 1953 election. A Progressive Conservative, he was re-elected in 1958 but was defeated in 1962. From 1957 to 1958, he was the Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General. From 1959 to 1962, he was the Minister responsible for National Capital Commission, Minister responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, and Minister of Public Works in the cabinet of John Diefenbaker.

A long-time friend of John Diefenbaker, he was Best Man at Diefenbaker's second wedding to Olive Diefenbaker in 1953. As well, he nominated Diefenbaker for leadership at the 1942 Winnipeg Progressive Conservative leadership convention and was his campaign manager in 1948. In 1963, he was appointed to the Senate of Canada representing the senatorial division of Toronto. He resigned in 1989.

Walker opposed Pierre Elliott Trudeau's proposed Senate reforms in 1969.

He published his memoirs Fun Along the Way: Memoirs of Dave Walker in 1989.

He was born in Woodhouse, Norfolk County, Upper Canada, the son of Solomon Walker and Sarah Osborne, and was educated in Norfolk County, at the University of Toronto and at Osgoode Hall. In 1856, he married Anna Bella Anderson. Walker was called to the Ontario bar in 1860 and practised in Simcoe County until 1870. In that year, he came to Winnipeg with the Wolseley Expedition. Walker resumed the practice of law there, serving as solicitor for the city of Winnipeg from 1874 to 1878. Walker served in the Manitoba cabinet as Attorney General. In 1882, he was named judge in the county court for the Western Judicial District; in 1893, he was transferred to Winnipeg. In 1911, he was also named police magistrate for Winnipeg.

Walker died in Venice, California.