Francis Amasa Walker

Born in Boston on July 2, 1840, Francis Amasa Walker built an unusually wide-ranging career as a soldier, statistician, economist, journalist, and educator. He graduated from Amherst College in 1860, served in the Union Army during the Civil War, and rose rapidly enough to become known as General Walker.

After the war, he became one of the most prominent public thinkers of his time. Walker directed the U.S. Census, wrote influential books and essays on economics, and took part in major debates about wages, labor, and monetary policy. He was also active in professional organizations, including the American Statistical Association and the American Economic Association.

In 1881, he became the third president of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and remained in that role until his death on January 5, 1897. Under his leadership, MIT expanded its reputation and influence, and his name has remained closely tied to the institute ever since.