Walker, Amasa (1799–1875)

US businessman, economist, and US representative. A specialist in the monetary system, he wrote widely on this topic. His Science and Wealth (1866) was a popular textbook in economics for many years.

He retired from business in 1840 and devoted himself to study and public service. He was president of the Boston Temperance Society in 1839, founder and first secretary of the Boston Lyceum, and a founder of Oberlin College where he lectured on economics 1842–49. He attended two International Peace Congresses (England 1844, Paris 1849). He was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1848 and 1859 and the state Senate in 1849; he was secretary of the state of Massachusetts 1851–53. He served a term in the US House of Representatives 1862–63. Walker was born in Woodstock, Connecticut.