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Walter W. Winans (April 5, 1852 – August 12, 1920) was an American marksman, horse breeder, sculptor, and painter who participated in the 1908 and 1912 Summer Olympics. He won two medals for shooting: a gold in 1908 and a silver in 1912. He also won a gold medal for his sculpture An American Trotter at Stockholm in 1912. In addition, Winans wrote ten books.
Biography
He was born to Americans, William Louis Winans and Maria Ann de la Rue on April 5, 1852 at the Nikolaevsky Railway Works at St. Petersburg, Russian Empire. His father was engaged in construction work and Walter lived in St. Petersburg until the age of 18, taking the oath of allegiance at the US Embassy before leaving for Kent, England to take up residence.
In 1910 he sent several horses to the National Horse Show in Madison Square Garden in New York City.
He held hunting, and held shooting rights over nearly 250,000 acres (1,000 km2) in Glen Strathfarrar, Glen Cannich and Glen Affric in the Highlands of Scotland. In the 1901 edition of his book "The Art of Revolver Shooting" he favoured the Webley-Fosbery above other 'automatic pistols' in but it is not mentioned in the 1911 edition nor in the subsequent "Automatic Pistol Shooting" or "The Modern Pistol and How to Shoot it".
In 1884 he prosecuted a Scotsman, Muirdoch Macrae, for grazing a lamb on land owned by Winans. The failure of Winans's prosecution established the right to roam which was a key element in opening British parklands to the public.
Winans died in Parsloes Park, Dagenham, Essex on 12 August 1920.