Historical Rosters Database
Richard Thomas Walker Duke
Roster ID 200This is a summary. Contact the Archives for additional biographical information.
| First Name: | Richard |
| Middle Name: | Thomas Walker |
| Last Name: | Duke |
| Suffix: | |
| Affiliation: | Class of 1845 |
| Biography & Genealogy: | Born on June 6, 1822. Matriculated on July 31, 1842. Graduated on July 4, 1845. Died on July 2, 1898. Richard Thomas Walker Duke, Class of 1845: Genealogy: Born- June 6, 1822 at Mill Brook, Albemarle Co. Va. Father- Richard Duke; Mother- Maria Walker of Castle Hill, Albemarle Co. Va. Pat. Grandfather- Clivears Duke of Hanover Co. Va.; Pat. Grandmother- unknown. Mat. Grandfather- Dr. Thomas Walker, a member of the House of Burgesses on the Committee of Safety during the American Revolution and was under Washington at Braddock's defeat. Mat. Grandmother- unknown. Married- Elizabeth Scott Eskridge, daughter of William S. Eskridge and Margaret R. (maiden name unknown) of Lexington, Va. Children- 1- William R. Duke, attorney at Charlottesville, Va. and four time member of the Va. Legislation. 2- Richard T. W. Duke, Jr. Judge of the Hustings Court in the City of Charlottesville. 3- Mary Willoughby Duke, who married Dr. Charles Slaughter of Lynchburg, Va. Matriculated at VMI from Stony Point. At VMI 3 years. Pre War Career: Cadet Assistant Professor of Math at VMI, 1843-44; taught at Richmond Academy; at University of Virginia 1849-50; member, UVA Board of Visitors, 1853-61, 1865-66; elected Commonwealth's Attorney, Albemarle County, 1858-1869; favored secession. Military Record: entered service at Charlottesville on May 8, 1861 as a Captain, Company B, 19th Virginia; called a "meritorious officer" by General P.G.T. Beauregard at First Manassas; absent due to illness from August to September, and December, 1861; Judge Advocate for a court-martial November, 1861; not re-elected in Apr., 1862; elected Colonel, 46th Virginia on May 24, 1862; often quarreled bitterly with brigade commander over need for frequent furloughs to act as Commonwealth's Attorney; resigned March 28, 1864; elected Lieutenant Colonel, 1st Battalion, Virginia Reserves, on May 31, 1864; claimed to have been last Confederate to cross Mayo's Bridge when Richmond was evacuated; captured at Sayler's Creek on Apr. 6, 1865; held at Johnson's Island, Ohio; released on oath July 25, 1865. Post War Career: Represented Charlottesville District in U.S. House of Representatives 1870-73 and Albemarle County in Virginia House of Delegates 1879-80; active in the Army of Northern Virginia Association; Freemason. Died- July 2, 1898 in Charlottesville, VA; buried in Maplewood Cemetery, Albemarle County. |
