A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Baker, George (a)
BAKER. (Captain, 1846. f-p., 16; h-p., 23.)
George Baker, born 3 May, 1795, in London, is third son of the late Sir Robt. Baker, of Montague Place, Russell Square, formerly Chief Magistrate of Bow Street, and Treasurer of the County of Middlesex, by Harriet, fourth daughter of Anthony Aufrère, Esq., of Hoveton Hall co. Norfolk, and niece, maternally, of John Norris, Esq., of Wilton Place, in the same county, founder of the Norrisian Professorship at Cambridge. Commander Baker, who has two brothers in the Hon. E.I.C.’s army, is cousin of Hon. Capt. Wodehouse, R.N.
This officer entered the Navy, 23 Aug. 1808, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Amazon 38, Capt. Wm. Parker, with whom, until Feb. 1812, he was actively employed, the last two years as Midshipman, in blockading the French ports in the Bay of Biscay, and in co-operating with the patriots on the north coast of Spain. He was then transferred to the Northumberland 74, Capt. Hon. Henry Hotham, and, on 22 of the following May, assisted at the destruction, after a gallant engagement of some hours, in which the British sustained a loss of 5 men killed and 28 wounded, of the two French 44-gun frigates Arienne and Andromaque and 18-gun brig Mameluke, under a galling fire from the batteries at the entrance of L’Orient. From Jan. 1813, until the receipt of his first commission, which bears date 7 March, 1815, Mr. Baker further served, chiefly as Master’s Mate and Acting-Lieutenant, on board the Pembroke 74, Capt. Jas. Brisbane, Ville de Paris 110, flag-ship of Sir Harry Neale, Salvador Del Mundo first-rate, Capt. Jas. Nash, Vengeur 74, Capt. Tristram Robt. Ricketts, Superb 74, bearing the flag of Hon. H. Hotham, Pactolus 38, Capt. Hon. Fred. Wm. Aylmer, Superb again, and Cyrus 20, Capt. Wm. Fairbrother Carroll. He served during that period on the Home and North America stations, and was present in the Superb off the coast of France on the occasion of Buonaparte’s surrender after the battle of Waterloo, to whom, in common with the other officers of the ship, when visited by the Emperor, he had the honour of being introduced. His next appointments were – 20 Nov. 1818, to the Dauntless 20, Capt. Hon. Valentine Gardner – and, 11 May, 1320, as First Lieutenant, to the Leander 50, flag-ship of Hon. Sir Henry Blackwood, both on the East India station, whence he returned to England in July, 1822. He subsequently held a command in the Coast Guard from 6 July, 1836, to 5 July, 1839; and on 18 Dec. 1841, was appointed to the Lily 16, in which sloop he sailed for the Cape station, and had the good fortune, in March, 1843, while cruizing in the Mozambique Channel, to effect the destruction of a celebrated armed slaver, and the capture of two others. Since 2 Jan. 1844, the date of his being paid off, Capt. Baker has been on half-pay. His promotion to his present rank took place 9 Nov. 1846.
He married, 17 Jan. 1827, Elizabeth Octavia, fourth daughter of the late Wm. Harding, Esq., of Baraset House, co. Warwick, and has issue two sons and four daughters. Agents – Messrs. Halford and Co.