On May 8, 1854, having failed to capture Sonora, Walker arrived back in the United States. He was arrested for his filibustering and put on trial in San Francisco. However, he was found not guilty in a jury deliberation that took eight minutes. He may have violated the law, but he was still viewed as a hero to many (racists).
Legally free, William Walker decided that the natural thing to do was to go back to filibustering. Mexico was a failure, so this time, Walker went to Nicaragua. In May 1855, Walker traveled with 57 men to join in the Nicaraguan civil war. Walker was a terrible military commander, but when the dust settled, Walker became president of Nicaragua, a title that the United States recognized.
In his grand tradition of failure, though, Walker only held on to power for 10 months before once again getting kicked out. This time, though, he angered not only locals but also railroad tycoon Cornelius Vanderbilt.
When he got back to the United States after this retreat, he was still celebrated by the American public. That sweet Manifest Destiny fever had not worn off just yet. This would be the last time that he returned, as his next filibustering expedition would prove fatal.
In 1860, Walker landed in Honduras, where he was captured by British forces. They gave him to the Honduran government, and Walker was executed on September 12, 1860.
Walker’s death did not alone signal the end of filibustering, but the practice died down soon after. Once the American Civil War broke out, there were no more filibusters, and when that war ended, unauthorized invasions never picked up their popularity again.
Top Image: Library Of Congress
Related: The 5 Craziest Soldiers of Fortune To Ever Cash a Paycheck
Discover the History You Missed…
and so much more! One Cracked Fact delivers one new story from the worlds of history, science and pop culture, directly to your inbox every day. Sign up now!