Samuel Hamilton Walker
Captain, U.S. Army

Samuel Hamilton Walker was born on 24 February 1817 in Toaping Castle, MD, to Nathan and Elizabeth Thomas Walker, and was the fifth of seven children.

Military Service

Walker arrived in Texas in 1842, when he took part in the defense against the Mexican invasion led by General Adrian Woll. He then joined the Texas Rangers in 1844 under the command of Captain John Coffee Hays. Promoted to the rank of Captain, he later led a Ranger company in the Mexican-American War with General Zachary Taylor and General Winfield Scott's armies.

Walker was involved in, and was a survivor of, the Black Bean Episode.

The Walker Colt Revolver

Walker is usually remembered as the inventor of the famous Walker Colt revolver, along with arms manufacturer Samuel Colt. Walker is said to have self-funded a trip to New York to meet with Colt and proposed to him the concept of a weapon based on the then-popular five-shot Colt Paterson revolver, with many enhancements such as adding a sixth round. By 1847, the new revolver was produced. The United States Mounted Rifle companies were provided with the new weapons, which proved to be extremely effective.

Honors

Walker County, TX, was re-named for him after the original namesake, Robert J. Walker, sided with the Union during the Civil War.

Death and Burial

On 9 October 1847, Walker was killed in Huamantla, in Tlaxcala, while leading his troops in the Battle of Huamantla during the Mexican-American War. In 1848 his remains were moved to San Antonio. On 21 April 1856, as part of a Battle of San Jacinto celebration, he was re-buried in the Odd Fellows' Cemetery in San Antonio.

One "official" Texas myth has him dying with two of his Colt Walker revolvers in his hands. He had received two colts a few days before his death. Another myth states he was killed by a lance. He was once wounded by a lance but was not fighting Indians at the time of his death.