William Walker (May 8th 1824 - September 12th 1860) is an adventurer, Flibustier and soldier of fortune which tried to conquer several countries of Latin America at the XIXe century. He was president of the Nicaragua of 1856 to 1857 and was put at died by the government of the Honduras in 1860.

Biography

Walker was born with Nashville, in the Tennessee, parents of Scottish origin. His/her mother, Mary Norvell, were the girl of Lieutenant Lipscomb Norvell, officer during the Guerre of independence of the United States of America.

At the 14 years age, William Walker is graduate suma cum laude of the university of Nashville. He travels then to Europe, studying medicine with the Université of Edinburgh and Heidelberg. At the 19 years age, it is received doctor with the Université of Pennsylvania and practical some time medicine with Philadelphia before going to the New-Orleans to study the right.

After a short experiment as a lawyer, Walker becomes joint owner E editor association of the New Orleans Crescent , a local newspaper. In 1849, it goes to San Francisco where he is journalist. It is wounded with three recoveries during duels. It is at that time that William Walker conceives the project to conquer vast areas of Latin America, where it would melt of the colonies directed by white english-speaking.

Forwarding in Mexico

October 15th, 1853, accompanied by 45 men, Walker begins his first forwarding of flibuste: the conquest of the Mexican territories of the Low-California and the Sonora. It succeeds in seizing La Paz, capital of Low-California, which is a vast territory very little populated. It makes of Paz the capital of the news République of Low-California , from which it proclaims president. Although it never succeeded in adapting Sonora, it decides three months later to integrate Low California into large a République of Sonora . The lack of material support and an unexpected resistance on behalf of the Mexicans forces Walker to beat a retreat. Of return in California, it is judged to have carried out an illegal war. However, at that time, the opinion of the south and the west of the United States rather judges good eye these attempts of expansion (see Destinée proclamation). One did not have more than eight minutes so that Walker is discharged.

The Master of Nicaragua

The republic centraméricaine of Nicaragua east in prey with the Civil war, and the rebellious faction engages Walker like Mercenaire. Escaping the authorities from the United States which wants to prevent it from leaving, it leaves San Francisco on May 4th, 1855. September 1st, Walker and his men beat armed the national Nicaraguan with Virgen and seize later one month the capital, Granada. At the beginning, Walker holds the capacity in the country through the president marionette Patricio Rivas. In spite of the illegal character of forwarding, the President of the United States Franklin Pierce recognizes officially the mode of Walker on May 20th, 1856. The agents of Walker then start to recruit Americans and Europeans in the idea to conquer the four other states of Central America: the Guatemala, the El Salvador, the Honduras and the Costa Rica. More than one thousand of mercenaries will answer his call.

At that time, one of the principal commercial routes between New York and San Francisco passed by Nicaragua. The boats passed in the Lac Nicaragua by the river San Juan, then the goods were conveyed by the ground on a short distance before reaching the Pacific Ocean and re-embarking towards California. The commercial exploitation of this road had been entrusted to the Accessory Transit Company , founded by Cornelius Vanderbilt. But the control of the company passes to the business men Cornelius K. Garrison and Charles Morgan, which support the forwarding of Walker. It follows a war of influences, Vanderbilt making pressure on the US government so that it reconsiders its decision to recognize the legitimacy of the Walker government. Vanderbilt succeeds in forming a coalition between the neighboring states of Nicaragua, carried out by Costa Rica, by providing a financial support and material with the armies of these countries. He also endeavors to cut the routing of the goods towards Nicaragua and promises a free voyage to the United States for the deserters of the army of Walker.

In April 1856, the troops of Costa Rica penetrate in Nicaragua and inflict a defeat with the men of Walker to the battle of Rivas. At the court of this battle Juan Santamaría, future national hero costa-yankee is illustrated.

In July 1856, Walker car-proclaims president of Nicaragua, after a show of elections. Knowing itself in unstable position, he thinks of being combined the support of the American Sudistes by proclaiming in favor of the Esclavage Blacks and by revoking the edict of abolition of slavery of Nicaragua. He draws thus the attention of Pierre Soulé, politician influential with the Orleans News, which rejoins with the cause of Walker of many people. Despite everything, the army of Walker is very weakened by an epidemic of Choléra and many defections.

May 1st, 1857, Walker is constrained to go. Of return to New York, it is accommodated as hero, but it quickly alienates part of the public opinion by charging its defeat to U.S. Navy. One should not to him more than six months to assemble another forwarding, but it is stopped by the American Navy.

Died in Honduras

Walker turns over to Central America. It arrives at Trujillo, to Honduras, and fall under the cut from the Royal Navy. The British government then controlled the accesses of the British Honduras (current Belize) and the Côte of Mosquitos (currently in Nicaragua). He saw of an evil eye the arrival of Walker who could thwart his projects of boring of a channel between the Atlantic and the Pacific.

Walker is delivered to the authorities of Honduras and is shot on September 12th, 1860 with Trujillo.

Works

• Account of the conquest of Nicaragua by William Walker: The war in Nicaragua , New York: S.H. Goetzel, 1860.

• Film: Walker , of Alex Cox, with ED Harris in the role of Walker. Feature film freely inspired of the life of Walker.

References

• Doubleday, C.W. “Reminiscences off the Filibuster War in Nicaragua”. New York: G.P. Putnam' S Sounds, 1886.
• Jamison, James Carson. “With Walker in Nicaragua: Reminiscences off year Officer off the American Phalanx”. Columbia, MO: E.W. Stephens, 1909.
• Wight, Samuel F. Adventures in California and Nicaragua: Truthful Epic has. Boston: Alfred Mudge & His, 1860.
• Fayssoux Collection. Tulane University. Latin American Library.
• United States Magazine. Sept., 1856. Flight III No 3. pp. 266-72
• “Filibustering”, Putnam' S Monthly Magazine (New York), April 1857,425-35.
• “Walker' S Reverses in Nicaragua,” Anti-Slavery Bugle, November 17,1856.
• “The Lesson” National Era, June 4,1857,90.
• “The Administration and Commodore Paulding,” National Era, January 7,1858.
• “Wanted - has Few Filibusters,” To grip' S Weekly, January 10,1857.
• “Reception off Gen. Does Walker,” New Orleans Picayune, May 28,1857.
• “Arrival off Walker,” New Orleans Picayune, May 28,1857.
• “Our Influence in the Isthmus,” New Orleans Picayune, February 17,1856.
• New Orleans Sunday Delta, June 27,1856.
• “Nicaragua and President Walker,” Louisville Times, December 13,1856.
• “Nicaragua and Filibustiers,” Opelousas Courier, May 10,1856.
• “What is to Become off Nicaragua? ,” To grip' S Weekly, June 6,1857.
• “The Late General Walker,” To grip' S Weekly, October 13,1860.
• “General What Walker is Like,” To grip' S Weekly, September, 1856.
• “Message off the President to the Senate in Refers off to the Late Arrest Gen. Walker,” Louisville Courier, January 12,1858.
• “Central The American Question - What Walker May C,” NewYork Times, January 1,1856.
• “has Serious Farce,” NewYork Times, December 14,1853.

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