William H. Walker, as he is commonly referenced, was one of the pioneers of chemical engineering practice and principles in the United States.
He moved to Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1894, and in 1917 founded the School of Chemical Engineering Practice.
[1] Although he was trained as a chemist, and worked as a chemistry educator, Dr. Walker was extremely influential in developing modern chemical engineering discipline.
He then returned to full-time academic work as an associate professor at MIT, in charge of the newly opened Research Laboratory of Applied Chemistry.
Little was active as member and chairman of the MIT Corporation Visiting Committees for Chemistry and Chemical Engineering.
[4] The American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) has commemorated Dr. Walker by creating the William H. Walker Award for Excellence in Contributions to Chemical Engineering Literature, described as follows on the AIChE website: The award has been presented every year from 1936 until the present.