A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Baker, Joseph Francis
BAKER. (Lieutenant, 1828. f-p., 33; h-p., 4.)
Joseph Francis Baker, born 31 July, 1798, at Baldock, co. Herts, is second son of the late Rich. Baker, Esq., by Catharine, only daughter of Wm. Richards, Esq., M.D.; and brother of the present Rich. Westbrook Baker, Esq., of Cottesmore and Langham, co. Rutland, a distinguished agriculturist.
This officer entered the Navy, 13 July, 1810, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Macedonian, of 48 guns and 254 men, Capts. Lord Wm. Fitzroy, Hon. Wm. Waldegrave, and John Surman Garden, and was for some time very actively engaged with the batteries on the coast of France. On 25 Oct. 1812, he was present and wounded in the brilliant action of two hours and ten minutes which rendered the Macedonian, after losing 36 men killed and 68 wounded, a shattered prize to the American frigate United States, of 56 guns and 474 men, 12 of whom only appear to have been killed and wounded. Mr. Baker next, in June, 1813, joined the Maidstone 36, Capt. Geo. Burdett, on the North America station; and on 24 Dec. following became Midshipman of the Shelburne schooner 12, Lieut.-Commanders David Hope and Wm. Hamilton, in which vessel he assisted at the capture, 20 April, 1814, of the Frolic American sloop, of 22 guns and 171 men, and also took part in the expedition to New Orleans, and the destruction of the enemy’s forts at Pensacola. He was subsequently employed, between Jan. 1815, and Aug. 1817, in the Plantagenet 74, Capt. Robt. Lloyd, Furieuse 36, Capt. Wm. Mounsey, and Pandora 18, Capts. Hon. Fred. Noel and Geo. Matthew Jones, on the America, Channel, and Irish stations; passed his examination 13 Dec. 1817; served on the Coast Blockade, as Admiralty Midshipman of the Severn, Capt. Wm. M‘Culloch, from Oct. 1818, to April, 1822; then joined the Racehorse 18, Capt. Wm. Benj. Suckling, under whom he was wrecked in Douglas Bay, Isle of Man, towards the close of the same year; and, until advanced to his present rank, 22 May, 1828, oificiated as Admiralty Midshipman and Mate, on the Home, East India, and Africa stations, of the Vigilant 12, Lieut.-Commander Nich. Colthurst, Windsor Castle 78, Capt. Edw. Dumford King, Java, Boadicea, and Britannia, flag-ships of Admirals Wm. Hall Gage and the Earl of Northesk, Onyx 10, Lieut.-Commander Wm. John Cole, and Sybille 48, Capt. Fras. Augustus Collier. Lieut. Baker, who served for some months subsequently to his promotion in the North Star 28, Capt. Septimus Arabin, has been in the Coast Guard since 22 April, 1831. While in the Coast Blockade at Standgate Creek in 1820, he was on one occasion, with only one man to support him, overwhelmed by a band of 300 armed smugglers, and so desperately wounded as to be left apparently lifeless on the spot.
He married Miss Elizabeth S. Middlecourt, and has issue several children. Agents – Messrs. Halford and Co.