Walker, Amasa, 1799–1875, American economist, b. Woodstock, Conn. He became a merchant in Boston but retired from business in 1840. He lectured (1842–48) on political economy at Oberlin College , which he was influential in founding. He was a delegate to the peace congresses at London (1843) and Paris (1849). An abolitionist, he was elected secretary of state (1851–53) for Massachusetts by the Free-Soil party, and filled out a term (1862–63) as U.S. Congressman. Walker taught economics at Harvard (1853–60) and Amherst (1859–69). His Science of Wealth (1866) was long a popular economics textbook. The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2012, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved. See more Encyclopedia articles on: Economics: Biographies