-
David Walker born in Wilmington, NC
Walker is born to a free mother and a slave father, who died before his birth. -
David Walker arrives in Boston
Walker opens a second-hand clothing business that creates a decent profit. -
Walker's prominence rises
Walker is a key agent in Freedom's Journal, a publication of which he rallied vital support. -
David Walker marries
Walker marries a woman known only by the name Emily, who was likely a fugitive slave. -
First edition of the Appeal is published
Copies discovered in Georgia within weeks of initial publishing. Within months, copies were found from Virginia to Louisiana. -
Underground circulation networks are established
The controversial nature of Walker's Appeal forced its circulation "underground" to be distributed by sailors, slaves, free blacks, etc. -
Two revised editions of Walker's Appeal are published
Each new publication became more aggressive and outspoken. -
David Walker dies three months after publishing the third edition of his Appeal
The exact cause of his death is unknown, but it is widely believed that he was poisoned for large rewards offered by Southern slaveholders. -
North Carolina governor sends copy of Walker's Appeal to legislature
The governor, along with other concerned officials, urged legislature to act before their predictions came true -
Suspicion grows among whites and black movement is restricted
The movement of both free and enslaved blacks is closely watched. Because David Walker was free, officials became paranoid of other free blacks. -
William Lloyd Garrison openly rejects David Walker's Appeal
Abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison believes that the Appeal is far too violent and does not reflect well on African Americans. -
Edward G. Walker is born
Edgar Walker is David's only child. Like his father before him, David Walker never had the chance to meet his son. -
Walker's Appeal is overshadowed by the Nat Turner Rebellion
Nat Turner gathered a few blacks, which eventually turned into a few dozen, and killed every white person they came upon. -
Walker's Appeal draws a new and wider audience
The text is reprinted with a biography of David Walker by a black newspaper editor/minister/Abolitionist by the name of Henry Highland Grant. -
Edward G. Walker
He becomes the first black elected to the Massachusetts State legislature.
