// Workers AI · dad joke modeWho's George Gustavus Walker? A walker with two first names, he's a step ahead.

For other people named George Walker, see George Walker (disambiguation).

Colonel Sir George Gustavus Walker
Portrait by William Clarke Wontner
Member of Parliament for Dumfriesshire
In office 1865–1868
Preceded by	John Hope-Johnstone
Succeeded by	Sydney Waterlow
In office 1869–1874
Preceded by	Sydney Waterlow
Succeeded by	John Hope-Johnstone
Personal details
Born	(1830-01-18)18 January 1830
Died	5 August 1897(1897-08-05) (aged 67)
Party	Conservative
Spouse	Anne Murray Lennock
Alma mater	Balliol College, Oxford

Colonel Sir George Gustavus Walker KCB JP DL (18 January 1830 – 5 August 1897) was a Scottish Conservative politician, militia officer and landowner. He sat as Member of Parliament for Dumfriesshire from 1865 to 1868 and again from 1869 to 1874. He commanded the 3rd Battalion of the King's Own Scottish Borderers, served as aide-de-camp to Queen Victoria, was convenor of the county of Dumfries from 1889 to 1894, and was appointed KCB in 1892. As a landowner he held Crawfordton in Dumfriesshire, where Crawfordton House was built for him in 1865, and the Corrour estate in the central Highlands until its sale to Sir John Stirling-Maxwell in 1891.

Early life and education

Walker was the only surviving son of John Walker of Crawfordton, Dumfriesshire, and Loch Treig, Inverness-shire, and his wife Jessy, daughter of John Johnstone. He was educated at Rugby School and Balliol College, Oxford, graduating B.A. in 1851 and M.A. in 1855.

Parliamentary career

Walker was elected Conservative Member of Parliament for Dumfriesshire at the 1865 general election, succeeding John Hope-Johnstone. He lost the seat at the 1868 general election to the Liberal candidate Sydney Waterlow, but regained it the following year at a by-election after Waterlow was disqualified for becoming a government contractor. Walker held the seat until standing down at the 1874 general election, when he was succeeded by another Hope-Johnstone, John Hope-Johnstone the younger.

County and military service

Outside Parliament Walker held several county offices. He served as a justice of the peace and deputy lieutenant for Dumfriesshire, a deputy lieutenant for Inverness-shire, and a justice of the peace for the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright. Art UK identifies him as convenor of the county of Dumfries from 1889 to 1894.

His military career was in the militia. From 1873 he was lieutenant-colonel commandant of the 3rd Battalion of the King's Own Scottish Borderers, and he was promoted full colonel in 1883. In 1884, after the death of the Duke of Buccleuch, Walker was appointed aide-de-camp to Queen Victoria, an appointment which the regimental history described as an honour both to him and to the battalion. He held the aide-de-camp role until 1892, the year in which he was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath on 10 May.

Estates

Crawfordton

Walker's principal seat was Crawfordton House in Dumfriesshire, built for him in 1865 and designed by the Edinburgh architectural firm of Peddie & Kinnear. Historic Environment Scotland describes the house as a Scottish Baronial mansion and lists it as a Category B listed building.

Corrour

Walker inherited the Corrour estate in the central Highlands in 1857. Historic Environment Scotland links the estate's later development to the growth of Highland field sports, including the construction of a shooting lodge and the leasing of sporting rights. Walker sold Corrour and the neighbouring Fersit estate to Sir John Stirling-Maxwell in 1891.

Family and death

Walker married Anne Murray Lennock, the only daughter of Admiral George Gustavus Lennock, in 1856. They had three sons and seven daughters; their daughter Ethel Mary Walker became the second wife of the Liberal politician Edward Knatchbull-Hugessen, 1st Baron Brabourne.

Walker died on 5 August 1897.

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by George Gustavus Walker