Today in History 05/03/18

Engraving of William Walker training his soldiers at Virgin Bay (© Bettmann/Corbis)(1855) William Walker sets off to conquer Nicaragua
A self-styled colonial kingpin, William Walker departs San Francisco for Central America, where he plans to rule over as much territory as possible, an exploit known as filibustering. He will succeed briefly in Nicaragua, but will be executed in Honduras five years later.
William Walker (May 8, 1824 – September 12, 1860) was an American physician, lawyer, journalist and mercenary who organized several private military expeditions into Latin America, with the intention of establishing English-speaking colonies under his personal control, an enterprise then known as “filibustering”. Walker usurped the presidency of the Republic of Nicaragua in 1856 and ruled until 1857, when he was defeated by a coalition of Central American armies. He was executed by the government of Honduras in 1860.
Lived: May 08, 1824 – Sep 12, 1860 (age 36)
Education: University of Nashville · University of Pennsylvania
Parents: Lipscomb Norvell (Father) · James Walker
Predecessor: Patricio Rivas (President)
Successor: Máximo Jerez (President)
Previous offices: President of Nicaragua (1856 – 1857) · Republic of Sonora (1854 – 1854) · Republic of Baja California (1853 – 1854)
Highlights
  • 1851: William Walker first gained national attention after his duel with William Hicks Graham on January 12, 1851 in San Francisco.

  • 1856: In April 1856, Costa Rican troops entered into Nicaraguan territory and inflicted a defeat on Walker’s men at the Second Battle of Rivas on April 11.

  • 1857: On May 1, 1857, Walker surrendered to Commander Charles Henry Davis of the United States Navy under the pressure of Costa Rica and the Central American armies, and was repatriated.

  • 1857: On June 12, 1857, Xatruch certainly made a triumphant entrance to Comayagua, which was then the capital of Honduras, after Walker surrendered.

  • 1860: He was executed by the government of Honduras in 1860.

  • 1860: Rudler was sentenced to 4 years in the mines, but Walker was sentenced to death, and executed by firing squad, near the site of the present-day hospital, on September 12, 1860.

Walker Nicaragua map
William Walker’s Nicaragua map
wiki/William_Walker_(filibuster)
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(1855) William Walker sets off to conquer Nicaragua.
Also on this day,
1810 | Lord Byron swims
1948 | ‘CBS Television News’
1960 | ‘The Fantasticks’

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