upon the active duties of the office in the spring of that year. In addition to his other services Rear-Admiral Walker has been very earnest and efficient in his efforts to build up the new navy.
Rear-Admiral Walker was married September 12, 1866, to Rebecca White Pickering. They have had seven children of whom five are now living. The degree of LL.D. has been conferred upon him by the University of Pennsylvania. He is a member of the Metropolitan club of Washington, and of the University club of New York city. He is also a member of the Society of the Cincinnati, of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, of the Sons of the Revolution, of the Military Order of Foreign Wars, of the Naval Order, the Military Order of the French Alliance, and of the Masonic Order. In several of these organizations he has held prominent positions. He has been president of the Metropolitan club of Washington, general commander of the Naval Order, commander of the District of Columbia Commandery Loyal Legion, commander of the District of Columbia Society of Foreign Wars, and vice commander-general of the Military Order of the French Alliance . During almost his entire active life he has been connected with the navy. He has never identified himself with any political party. While not an active member of any religious denomination he is in sympathy with the liberal, or Unitarian faith.
In childhood and youth he says that he was ambitious; and a desire to excel has had much to do with his success in making his way in the world. Such tasks as he was required to perform not only accustomed him to labor but also gave him an idea of responsibility which has influenced him in all his subsequent life. In the choice of a profession he was allowed to follow his own preference. He has never followed any system of physical culture or given attention to athletics. His principal relaxations have been found in the exercise and the sports of country life. His reading has been varied but he has found historic and biographic works the most helpful to him in winning success. In estimating the various forces which have had a determining influence upon his career Rear-Admiral Walker mentions contact with men in active life as the strongest.
Among the important means for obtaining success which experience and observation have led Rear-Admiral Walker to recommend, are "good habits, persistent and determined effort, and a reasonable degree of confidence in one's own powers of accomplishment." In
