Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Baker, Henry Aaron

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729003Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 03 — Baker, Henry Aaron1885Ernest Radford

BAKER, HENRY AARON (1753–1836), Irish architect, was a pupil of James Gandon, 'and acted as clerk of the works to the buildings designed and chiefly constructed by his master for the Inns of Court, then called the King's Inns, at Dublin.' He was a member of, and for some time secretary to, the Royal Hibernian Academy. In 1787 he was appointed teacher of architecture in the Dublin Society's school, and retained the post till his death. He erected the triumphal arch known as Bishop's Gate at Derry, and he gained (1802-4) the first prize for a design for converting the Irish parliament house into a bank. The superintendence of that work was given, however, to another architect, Francis Johnstone. He died on 7 June 1836.

[Duhigg's History of the King's Inns, 1806; Mulvany's Life of J. Gandon, Dublin, 1846; Dict. Architectural Publication Society, 1853; Redgrave's Dict. of Artists, 1879.]

E. R.