William Walker, arguably the greatest filibuster in American history, was born in Nashville, Tennessee on May 8th, 1824. Among the titles he claimed in his lifetime were President of Lower California, Emperor of Nicaragua, Doctor, lawyer, and writer. The study of this interesting character requires a good look at who William Walker was, what filibusters did in American history, what he did, and an exploration of a question: Why is William Walker typically left out of historical texts?
William Walker himself was born an un-licensed, would-be conqueror, burning with a desire for fame and carried away by a firm belief in his own destiny to rule. He was a very intelligent man, educated first at the University of Nashville, then abroad at the universities of Edinburgh, Göttingen, Heidelberg, and Paris. …
