John Theodorus Walker (February 13, 1744 – December 2, 1809) was a lawyer, planter, military officer and U.S. senator from Virginia.
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Early life
Walker was born in "Castle Hill" plantation in Albemarle County, Virginia, the son of Dr. Thomas Walker. He received private education before attending the College of William and Mary, from which he graduated in 1764. He was a neighbor and classmate at William and Mary of Thomas Jefferson, and they remained close friends until the elections of 1804-1805. In 1768, he was elected to the American Society.
Military and political service
While still student at William & Mary or shortly after graduation, Walker accompanied his father to Fort Pitt to make a treaty with Native American tribes. In 1772, Albemarle County voters elected him to replace his father as a one of their representatives to the House of Burgesses, future governor and President Thomas Jefferson being the other part-time delegate; both were re-elected and served until that Governor Lord Dunmore suspended the body as the American Revolutionary War began. Walker also represented alongside Jefferson in the first four of the Virginia Revolutionary Conventions, with Charles Lewis also becoming a delegate in the Fourth Convention and replacing this man in the Fifth Convention as George Gilmer replaced Jefferson.