A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Baker, Charles Hougham
BAKER. (Commander, 1846. f-p., 13; h-p., 8.)
Charles Hougham Baker is son of the late Rev. Chas. Baker, Vicar of Tilmerstone, co. Kent; nephew of the late Vice-Admiral of the Red Sir Thos. Baker, K.C.B. {whom see); and brother-in-law of Commander John Goodrich Dick, R.N.
This officer entered the Navy, 18 Dec. 1826, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Gloucester 74, Capt. Joshua Sydney Horton, on the Home station; removed the year following, as Midshipman, to the Ocean 80, Commodore Patrick Campbell, employed after the battle of Navarin in blockading that port; next joined in succession, the Glasgow 50, Capt. Jas. Ashley Maude, on the same station, and the Shannon 46, Capt. Benj. Clements, fitting for the West Indies; and from 1829 until 1833, in March of which year he passed his examination, was borne on the books of the Warspite 76, flag-ship of his uncle, Sir T. Baker, Commander-in-Chief in South America. For two years of the latter period, however he was lent to the Tribune 42, Capt. John Alex. Duntze nd in that ship he was present at the blockade of Callao and the capture of the Peruvian corvette Libertad, laden with dollars for the payment of the Colombians. Pxior to rejoimng the Warspite Mr. Baker was also for some tme emplolyed in the Adelaide schooner, at Cape Frio, for the purpose of recovering the treasure.lost in H.M.S. Thetis. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant 29 March, 1833; served from 30 May 1834, until paid off in June, 1838, on board the Thalia 46, Capt. Robt. Wauchope, stationed on the coast of Africa, where he assisted at the capture of three slavers; and on 10 April, 1839, was appointed to the Druid 44, Capts. Lord Henry John Spencer Churchill and Henry Smith. While participating, under the latter officer, in the subsequent operations of the Chinese campaign, he served in the boats at the capture of the barrier-fortifications at Macao, 19 Aug. 1840; also at the reduction of Tycocktow and capture of the Bogue forts, 7 Jan. and 26 Feb. 1841; and on many occasions was actively engaged in watching fire-rafts and otherwise. Lieut. Baker invalided home in the spring of 1841, in consequence of ill-health, produced by the effects of the climate, on board the Melville 72, Capt. Rich. Saunders Dundas; and was advanced to the Rank of Commander 9 Nov. 1846. Agents- Goode and Lawrence.