A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Baker, Samuel
BAKER. (Lieutenant, 1823. f-p., 18; h-p., 22.)
Samuel Baker entered the Navy, 18 Nov. 1807, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Valiant 74, Capts. Jas. Young, Alex. Robt. Kerr, John Bligh, Thos. Geo. Shortland, and Robt. Dudley Oliver. During the three years of his attachment to that ship he witnessed the destruction, in April, 1809, of the French shipping in Basque Roads; was in continual boat service at the subsequent siege of Flushing; assisted, in June, 1810, in capturing and spiking the guns of a strong battery between Rochefort and Rochelle, and in bringing out several vessels anchored for protection under its walls; and for several months afterwards was in constant collision with the enemy’s row-boats while endeavouring to destroy their trade along that part of the coast of France. In Nov. 1810, he joined the Lynx 18, Capt. Thos. Percival, on the North Sea station, but was soon transferred to the Edinburgh 74, Capt. Robt. RoUes, with whom, on arriving in the Mediterranean, he removed to the Union 98, in which ship he passed his examination, 4 Jan. 1814, and assisted at the ensuing reduction of Genoa. After a further attachment of 12 months to the Swiftsure 74, Capt. Wm. Henry Webley, on the West India and Home stations, Mr. Baker was appointed, 5 Dec. 1815, Admiralty Midshipman of the Towey 24, Capts. Hew Stewart and Wm. Hill, with whom we find him employed in the East Indies and Persian Gulf until his return home in April, 1819; from which period until 24 March, 1823, he continued to serve, in the same capacity, on board the Bulwark 74, bearing the flag at Chatham of Sir John Gore, Tartar 36, Commodore Sir Geo. Ralph Collier, on the coast of Africa, Bulwark again, and Gloucester 74, flag-ships of Sir Benj. Hallowell at Chatham, and Owen Glendower 86, Commodore Sir Robt. Mends. In the boats of the latter frigate, as of the Tartar, he was actively engaged in suppressing the slave-traffic up the different rivers between Sierra Leone and Cape Coast Castle. On the date last mentioned he became Acting-Lieutenant of the Cyrene 18, Capt. Percy Grace; and, shortly after his confirmation, which took place on 21 Aug. in the same year, he returned to England. He was subsequently, from 22 Sept. 1825, until Jan. 1828, employed on the Coast Blockade as Supernumerary-Lieutenant of the Hyperion 42, Capt. Wm. Jas. Mingaye, but has since been on halfpay.
Lieut. Baker married, 21 Sept. 1830, Margaret, daughter of the late S. Burnet, Esq., of Lloyd’s Coffee-House. Agents – Messrs. Stilwell.