A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Baker, Gustavus Spicker
BAKER. (Lieutenant, 1824. f-p., 32; h-p., 5.)
Gustavus Spicker Baker, born 25 July, 1796, is brother of Lieut. Chas. Henry Baker, R.N.
This officer entered the Navy, 1 May, 1810, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Unicorn 32, Capt. Alex. Robt. Kerr, and assisted in blockading the French ports in the Bay of Biscay. During the whole of the American war he was, very actively employed with the same officer, as Midshipman, in the Acasta 40. Until Sept. 1823, he afterwards served on the Home, East India, South America, Mediterranean, and West India stations, on board the Namur 74, Towey 24, Grasshopper 18, Vengeur and Genoa 74’s, Eden 28, and Gloucester 74, Capts. Geo. M‘Kinley, Houston Stewart, Wm. Hill, David Buchan, Fred. Lewis Maitland, Sir Thos. Livingstone, John Lawrence, and Jas. Lillicrap. He then (having passed his examination in Sept. 1816) became Acting-Lieutenant of the Tyne 28, Capt. John Walter Roberts; and on being officially promoted, 12 Jan. 1824, was placed on half-pay. He subsequently held the temporary command of a Falmouth packet; and from 21 May, 1829, until 1831, was employed in the Coast Blockade, as Supernumerary-Lieutenant of the Ramillies and Talavera 74’s, Capts. Hugh Pigot and David Colby. Since 31 March in the latter year he has served uninterruptedly in the Coast Guard. We should not omit to mention that, in March, 1830, while in discharge of his duty, Lieut. Baker encountered a band of smugglers, and, in a desperate conflict which ensued, received several very severe wounds on the head and in different parts of the body; and that his conduct on the occasion was reported in the most flattering terms to the Admiralty. Agents – Messrs. Ommanney.