Asa Walker

Background

Asa Walker was born in Portsmouth, N. H. He was the son of Asa T. and Louisa (Morrell) Walker.

Education

He entered the United States Naval Academy, then temporarily located at Newport, R. I, November 27, 1862. In 1866 he was graduated.

Career

In summer 1863 as a midshipman on the Macedonian he cruised for four months off the coast of Spain and northern Africa in vain pursuit of the Confederate cruiser Alabama, which was never sighted. In 1866 he was sent on a voyage to the East Indies on the Sacramento, which was wrecked in the Bay of Bengal, June 19, 1867, at the mouth of the Sambalding River but without loss of life. Walker's subsequent service included a number of long voyages in Asiatic waters, where he acquired a wide reputation for his skill as a navigator. In 1883 he sailed as navigating officer of the Trenton, which had just been fitted out with a complete installation of electric lights, probably the first warship in the world to be so equipped. He spent four tours of duty at the Naval Academy, as assistant in mathematics (1873-74, 1879 - 83), head of the department of astronomy, navigation, and surveying (1886 - 90), and head of the department of mathematics (1893 - 97). On May 23, 1897, Walker, then a commander, was given command of the Concord. On this vessel he transported a heavy load of ammunition from Mare Island to Dewey's squadron off Yokohama, joining him on Feburary 9, 1898, and participating in all the further movements of the fleet. When Commodore Dewey arrived off the coast of Luzon, Philippine Islands, Walker in the Concord, supported by the Boston, proceeded at full speed and reconnoitered Subic Bay. On April 30 Walker reported that there were no Spanish ships in the vicinity, and on the morning of May 1 Dewey in his flagship, the Olympia, steamed into Manila Bay with his fleet. The Concord was the fifth in line. In the battle which followed, the Concord shelled and destroyed the Spanish transport, Mindanao. Walker also assisted in the later operations leading up to the capture of the city of Manila. Throughout the campaign Dewey reposed the fullest confidence in Walker's skill and judgment. On June 10, 1898, he was advanced nine numbers in grade "for eminent and conspicuous conduct" in the battle of Manila Bay. Walker was promoted to the rank of captain in 1899, and was given duty at the Naval War College (1899 - 1900) and on the naval examining board (1900 - 05), as a member of the naval general board. Finally he was made superintendent of the Naval Observatory (1906 - 07), his last service. He was commissioned rear admiral in 1906, and was retired for age, November 13, 1907. His remaining years were passed quietly at his home at Annapolis, Md. He lived to become the last surviving commander who fought under Dewey at Manila Bay.

Achievements

• His Navigation (1888) was used as a textbook at the Naval Academy for many years.

Connections

Walker married Ruth Leavitt Brooks of Portsmouth, N. H. , on December 16, 1867. By her he had a daughter who died in childhood and a son. His wife died, January 31, 1877, and on June 11, 1890, he married Arabella W. Grant of Frankfort, Ky. , who died in 1927.

Father:

Asa T. Walker

Mother:

Louisa (Morrell) Walker

Spouse:

Arabella W. Grant

Spouse:

Ruth Leavitt Brooks