A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Baker, John (a)
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.