Walker, William, 1828 – 1908

William Walker (1828-1908), solicitor and parliamentarian, was born at Glasgow, Scotland, son of George and Elizabeth Walker. His father, a school teacher, was recruited to come to Australia by J.D. Lang. The family arrived at Sydney in 1837 and opened a Presbyterian school at Windsor where William was educated. He was admitted as a solicitor in 1852 and practised in Windsor until his death in 1908.

In 1853 Walker married Mary Cover Hassall (1828-1858) daughter of Jonathan Hassall (1798-1834), third son of Rowland and Elizabeth Hassall, and Mary, nee Rouse, daughter of Richard and Elizabeth Rouse. Mary Cover Walker died in 1858 and in 1859 Walker married secondly Henrietta Medora, daughter of Robert Cooper of Sydney. In 1876 he married thirdly Jessy, daughter of Rev. William Wood.

Walker was elected a member of the NSW Legislative Assembly for the seat of Windsor (1860-1869) and was appointed a member of the NSW Legislative Council (1888-1908). Walker was an alderman on the first Windsor Council (1871-1880) and was elected mayor in 1880.[ref:ADB 6]