38
BAKER.
Fort Washington and the capitulation of Alexandria; and, in the despatches of Capt. Jas. Alex. Gordon, again acquired especial praise for the zealous alacrity of his conduct on every one of those salient occasions of difficulty and danger which attended the ascent and descent of the river – but, above all, for the prominent part borne by him in rescuing the grounded Devastation from falling a sacrifice to the boats and fire-vessels of the enemy.[1] He subsequently brought home the despatches announcing the surrender of Guadeloupe, an event to which he had also, as officially testified, very creditably contributed, and was in consequence promoted to Post-rank, by commission dated 13 June, 1815,[2] and, about the same period, nominated a C.B. On 29 July, 1840, the subject of this memoir was selected by Vice-Admiral Sir Henry Digby to be his Flag-Captain in the Howe 120, at Sheerness, where, in Oct. following, a few days after his removal with the above officer to the Camperdown 104, he had the misfortune, while in attendance on the Lords of the Admiralty, to break his leg and receive other severe injuries; owing to which circumstance, and to his former services, he was granted, 19 Jan. 1842, a pension of 180l. He resigned the command of the Camperdown in Dec. 1841, and accepted the half-pay of retirement 1 Oct. 1846.
Sir Henry Loraine Baker married, 27 June, 1820, Louisa Ann, only daughter of Wm. Williams, Esq., of Belmont House, South Lambeth, formerly M.P. for Weymouth, and by that lady has issue a son and three daughters. Agents – Messrs. Chard.
BAKER. (Lieutenant, 1841.)
Horace Mann Baker is second son of the late Vice-Admiral Sir Thos. Baker, K.C.B.
This officer entered the Navy 29 March, 1829; passed his examination 31 Jan. 1840; and was then appointed Mate of the Alligator 26, Capt. Alex. Leopold Kuper. During the operations on the coast of China, he landed at the storming, 27 Feb. 1841, of the enemy’s works close to Whampoa Reach, where 54 pieces of cannon were taken; assisted at the first capture of Canton; was officially mentioned for the activity with which, when in partial command of the Alligator boats, he aided in towing clear of that vessel a body of fire-rafts sent by the Chinese to effect her destruction; and, on 26 May, was again employed in the boats at the demolition of the line of defences extending about two miles from the British factory at Canton.[3] He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant (while serving in the Tweed 20, Capt. Hugh Donald Cameron Douglas) by commission dated 8 Oct. 1841; and since 17 June, 1842, has been employed, in North America and the West Indies, on board the Pique 36, Capt. Hon. Montagu Stopford.
BAKER. (Captain, 1843. f-p., 26; h-p., 10.)
James Vashon Baker entered the Royal Naval College 2 Aug. 1811, and embarked, 16 Dec. 1812, as a Volunteer, on board the Norge 74, Capt. John Spratt Rainier, stationed in the North Sea, where he attained the rating of Midshipman, 17 Dec. 1813. He next, between June, 1814, and June, 1819, joined, in succession, the Liverpool 40, Capt. Arthur Farquhar, employed chiefly at the Cape of Good Hope, Forth 40, Capt Sir John Louis, in North America, and Newcastle 60, bearing the flag at Halifax of Rear-Admiral Edw. Griffith, of which ship he became Acting-Lieutenant, 9 March, 1820. He received his first Admiralty commission 19 July following, and was afterwards appointed – 2 Oct. 1820, to the Mersey 26, Capt. Edw. Collier, in North America – 26 Nov. 1822, and 31 May, 1823, to the Ramillies 74 and Ganges 84, Capts. Edw. Bruce and Patrick Campbell, on the Home and Jamaica stations – 31 Aug. 1826, to the Ringdove 18, Capts. Edw. Le Cras Thornbrough and Chas. English, employed at Chatham and Halifax – 19 March; 1830, as Senior, to the Pylades 18, Capts. Patrick Duff, Henry Hay, and Edw. Blanckley, on the Cork and South America stations – 28 Sept. 1832, to the Druid 46, Capt. Sam. Roberts, off Lisbon – 20 May, 1833, as First Lieutenant, to the Forte 44, Capt. Watkin Owen Pell, in North America and the West Indies – and, 19 June, 1837, in the same capacity, to the Donegal 78, Capts. Fras. Brace and John Drake, flag-ship for some time of Sir John Acworth Ommanney, on the Lisbon station. Capt. Baker, who received his second promotal commission 22 Feb. 1838, was subsequently appointed, 1 Oct. 1840, Commander of the Howe 120, Capts. Sir W. O. Pell and Robt. Smart, flag-ship latterly of Sir Fras. Mason, in the Mediterranean; on his return whence he was advanced to Post-rank, 10 July, 1843. He has since been on half-pay. Agents – Messrs. Stilwell.
BAKER. (Captain, 1810. f-p., 19; h-p., 44.)
John Baker was born about the year 1770, and died at Walmer, co. Kent, in March, 1845. He was elder brother of the late Vice-Admiral of the Red Sir Thos. Baker, K.C.B.
This officer entered the Navy, in May, 1782, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Roebuck 44, under the auspices of Capt. John Orde, on the Baltic station; joined, in Nov. 1784, the Europa 50, flag-ship at Jamaica of Rear-Admiral Innes; and from Sept. 1787, until Dec. 1793, served as Midshipman, in the Orion and Carnatic 74’s, Capts. Sir Hyde Parker and Hon. P. Bertie, both lying at Plymouth, St. George 98, flag-ship of Sir Rich. King at Spithead, London 98, Capt. Rich. Goodwin Keats, in the Channel, and Flora 36, flag-ship on the same station of Rear-Admiral John Macbride. He then became Acting-Lieutenant of the Victorious 74, Capt; Sir John Orde, also in the Channel, where he was confirmed in the Venerable 74, commanded by the same officer, 9 July, 1794; next joined, in succession, the Prince George 98, Capt. Sir J. Orde, Trident 64, Capts. Jones and Osborn, and Commerce de Marseilles, Capt. Child, sill similarly stationed; and was afterwards, from March, 1797, till Sept. 1800, employed as Flag-Lieutenant, in the Cambridge 80, Princess Royal 90, and Blenheim 74, flag-ships at Plymouth and in the Mediterranean of his friend Sir J. Orde, and in the Ville de Paris, bearing the flag in the Channel of Earl St. Vincent. In May, 1801, Mr. Baker assumed command of the Vixen gun-brig, in which we find him employed in the Downs until the receipt of his second commission, 29 April, 1802. His next appointment was, 20 April, 1804, to the armed ship Blening; from which, after an intermediate servitude in the North Sea and Baltic, he was transferred, 20 Jan. 1806, to the Kangaroo sloop, of 18 guns. On 20 Nov. 1808, he captured, near Boulogne, L’Egayant privateer, of 14 guns and 31 men, and continued actively engaged, on the Home station and off the coasts of Spain and Portugal, until advanced to Post-rank, 21 Oct. 1810. From that period until the time of his death, Capt. Baker remained unemployed. Agent – J. Hinxman.
BAKER. (Lieut., 1822. f-p., 10; h-p., 22.)
John Baker died 5 Dec. 1845.
This officer entered the Navy, 15 Aug. 1813, as A.B., on board the Inconstant 36, Capt. Sir Edw. Tucker, on the Brazilian station; attained, very soon afterwards, the rating of Midshipman; and continued to serve in the same ship and the Semiramis 36, under Sir Jas. Lucas Yeo, on the coast of Africa, until the death of the latter in Sept. 1818. Between that period and the date of his promotion to the rank of Lieutenant, 26 Dec. 1822, he appears to have been further employed, as Master’s Mate, on board the Alert and Myrmidon sloops, both commanded by Capt. Henry John Leeke, in the North Sea, and again on the Africa station. He did not afterwards go afloat. Agents – Messrs. Ommanney.
