George Washington Walker
Encyclopedia
George Washington Walker (19 March 1800 – 2 February 1859) was a missionary
for the church
called Religious Society of Friends
, or Quakers.
Walker was born to Unitarian
parents in London
, the twenty-first child of John Walker by his second wife, Elizabeth. He was educated at a school in Barnard Castle
. He was introduced to the Society of Friends in his teenage years when he worked in Newcastle
for a linen draper who was a Quaker, but Walker did not become a Quaker himself until 1827. Walker also participated in the temperance movement
.
Walker met his future missionary partner James Backhouse
in 1820 or 1821. Between September 1831 and February 1832, Walker and Backhouse travelled from England to Hobart
, Van Diemen's Land
(modern Tasmania
). Between 1832 and 1838, they made a tour of the penal settlements in Australia
, Van Diemen's Land, and Norfolk Islands. Between 1838 and 1840, they left Australia and did missionary work in Mauritius
and South Africa
.
In 1840, Walker ended his travels. He returned to Hobart in September and was married to Sarah Benson Mather on 15 December 1840. He set up a business as a draper, and, in 1844, helped establish the Hobart Savings Bank which eventually became the Trust Bank. He worked at his business and for the Quakers and temperance until he died on 2 February 1859 in Hobart.
In 1994, the Hobart Savings Bank endowed a scholarship at the University of Tasmania
named the "George Washington Walker Trust Bank Perpetual Undergraduate Scholarship"; it was to be awarded to students of commerce or economics.
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
for the church
Church Body
A local church is a Christian religious organization that meets in a particular location. Many are formally organized, with constitutions and by-laws, maintain offices, are served by pastors or lay leaders, and, in nations where this is permissible, often seek seek non-profit corporate status...
called Religious Society of Friends
Religious Society of Friends
The Religious Society of Friends, or Friends Church, is a Christian movement which stresses the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers. Members are known as Friends, or popularly as Quakers. It is made of independent organisations, which have split from one another due to doctrinal differences...
, or Quakers.
Walker was born to Unitarian
Unitarianism
Unitarianism is a Christian theological movement, named for its understanding of God as one person, in direct contrast to Trinitarianism which defines God as three persons coexisting consubstantially as one in being....
parents in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, the twenty-first child of John Walker by his second wife, Elizabeth. He was educated at a school in Barnard Castle
Barnard Castle
Barnard Castle is an historical town in Teesdale, County Durham, England. It is named after the castle around which it grew up. It sits on the north side of the River Tees, opposite Startforth, south southwest of Newcastle upon Tyne, south southwest of Sunderland, west of Middlesbrough and ...
. He was introduced to the Society of Friends in his teenage years when he worked in Newcastle
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
for a linen draper who was a Quaker, but Walker did not become a Quaker himself until 1827. Walker also participated in the temperance movement
Temperance movement
A temperance movement is a social movement urging reduced use of alcoholic beverages. Temperance movements may criticize excessive alcohol use, promote complete abstinence , or pressure the government to enact anti-alcohol legislation or complete prohibition of alcohol.-Temperance movement by...
.
Walker met his future missionary partner James Backhouse
James Backhouse
James Backhouse was a botanist and missionary for the Quaker church in Australia.-Early life in England:Backhouse was the fourth child of James and Mary Backhouse a quaker business family of Darlington, County Durham, England. His father died when he was a child and his mother brought him up in a...
in 1820 or 1821. Between September 1831 and February 1832, Walker and Backhouse travelled from England to Hobart
Hobart
Hobart is the state capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. Founded in 1804 as a penal colony,Hobart is Australia's second oldest capital city after Sydney. In 2009, the city had a greater area population of approximately 212,019. A resident of Hobart is known as...
, Van Diemen's Land
Van Diemen's Land
Van Diemen's Land was the original name used by most Europeans for the island of Tasmania, now part of Australia. The Dutch explorer Abel Tasman was the first European to land on the shores of Tasmania...
(modern Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
). Between 1832 and 1838, they made a tour of the penal settlements in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, Van Diemen's Land, and Norfolk Islands. Between 1838 and 1840, they left Australia and did missionary work in Mauritius
Mauritius
Mauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
and South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
.
In 1840, Walker ended his travels. He returned to Hobart in September and was married to Sarah Benson Mather on 15 December 1840. He set up a business as a draper, and, in 1844, helped establish the Hobart Savings Bank which eventually became the Trust Bank. He worked at his business and for the Quakers and temperance until he died on 2 February 1859 in Hobart.
In 1994, the Hobart Savings Bank endowed a scholarship at the University of Tasmania
University of Tasmania
The University of Tasmania is a medium-sized public Australian university based in Tasmania, Australia. Officially founded on 1 January 1890, it was the fourth university to be established in nineteenth-century Australia...
named the "George Washington Walker Trust Bank Perpetual Undergraduate Scholarship"; it was to be awarded to students of commerce or economics.