Walter Elliott (1842–1928) was an American Roman Catholic priest and missionary, who authored the controversial 1891 book Life of Father Hecker, a biography of the missionary Isaac Hecker, which sparked the Americanism controversy.
Walter Elliot was born in Detroit, Michigan in 1842, the son of Judge Robert Thomas Elliott of Detroit, formerly of Tipperary. He was educated in the Christian Brothers schools and at the age of twelve was sent to the Notre Dame. Upon graduation, he prospected for gold around Pikes Peak before returning east to Cincinnati, where he entered law school.[1]
Elliott was admitted to the bar shortly before the outbreak of hostilities, whereupon he enlisted in the 5th Ohio Infantry. In 1862, the regiment was sent into Virginia's Shenandoah Valley. On June 9. 1862, he was captured at the Battle of Port Republic but was exchanged three months later and returned to his regiment.[1] His brother, Captain William R. Elliott, was killed at Gettysburg; his brother Major Robert T. Elliott at Tollopotomy Creek, Virginia in May 1864.
He served in the Union army during the Civil War. In 1868 he joined the Missionary Society of Saint Paul the Apostle and was ordained in 1872.[2]
