Daniel Walker

Daniel Walker BSc. (1887)

Daniel Walker was born in London, and received his formative education at King’s College. While there, he gained several prizes for science subjects and also the associateship of the college with honours. He then attended a course of lectures at the Royal School of Mines on metallurgy and chemistry, sparking a life-long interest, and obtained an associateship of the City of London College with special honours and medal for chemistry.

After passing the intermediate Bachelor of Science at the University of London, Daniel spent a few years as a science master at a grammar school in Somersetshire. He then went to Manchester, and attended classes for physics, finally gaining an exhibition for organic chemistry. He was appointed lecturer for the Science and Art Department in chemistry at the Mechanics’ Institute at Aston-under-Lyne, Cheedle, Duckenfield, and other places in and around Manchester.

On account of poor health, Daniel came out to Australia in 1883 bound for Sydney. But he was subsequently offered the position as science master of Prince Alfred College in Adelaide, and decided to accept it. After four years as a teacher he again became a student, attending the University of Adelaide where was the first male BSc graduate, obtaining this in 1887 with a major in chemistry.

Mr Walker of the University of Adelaide. In 1888, Mr Walker was offered the position of demonstrator and lecturer in chemistry at the Ballarat School of Mines, Victoria. In 1918 he retired from the School of Mines with the title “Professor of Chemistry”.