WALKER, Joshua (1786-1862), of Portland Place and Hendon Place, Mdx.

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1790-1820, ed. R. Thorne, 1986
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

1818 - May 1829

Family and Education

b. 28 Sept. 1786, and surv. s. of Joshua Walker of Clifton House, nr. Rotherham, Yorks. by Susanna, da. of Samuel Need, textile manufacturer, of Arnold, Notts. m. 18 Dec. 1805, Anna Maria, da. and coh. of Allan Holford of Davenham, Cheshire, 6s. 2da.

Offices Held

Biography

In 1815 Walker and his elder brother Henry inherited their father’s share in the family iron and steel works and lead factories. Their father was the founder of the Independent College at Rotherham, their maternal grandfather a partner with Arkwright and Strutt. In 1818 their cousin Samuel Walker* returned Joshua as his colleague lon his recently purchased interest in the borough of Aldeburgh. Like Samuel, he was a silent Member in his first Parliament and their votes were identical. Unlike Samuel he remained in the House, and sat for Aldeburgh after the patronage had been disposed of by his family to the Marquess of Hertford, until difference of opinion over the Catholic relief question led to his resignation in 1829.

Unlike Samuel, Joshua Walker, who resided in London, deprecated investment in the iron trade and was prominent in the family’s lead manufacturing concerns, notably those in Lambeth. He was also a partner in banks in Sheffield, Rotherham and London from the 1820s. He therefore fared better than Samuel. He died 22 Jan. 1862.

See WALKER, Samuel; Fitton and Wadsworth, Strutts and Arkwrights, 38; M. L. Walker, Fam. Need of Arnold, Notts. 11-13; A. H. John, Walker Fam. 24-31, 35.

Ref Volumes: 1790-1820

Author: Lawrence Taylor

Notes