A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Baker, Thomas (a)
BAKER. (Lieut., 1815. f.p., 11; h.p., 31.)
Thomas Baker (a) entered the Navy, 6 Feb. 1805, as Third-cl. Boy, on board the Pearl, Lieut.Commander Woodger, lying at Spithead; removed, in Feb. 1808, to the Antelope 50, Capt. Edw. Galwey, with whom he cruized for some time in the Mediterranean and off St. Helena; attained the rating of Midshipman 6 Jan. 1810; and continued to serve in the same ship, under Vice-Admiral John Holloway, Admiral Sir John Thos. Duckworth, and Capt. Sam. Butcher, off Newfoundland, and in the Baltic, West Scheldt, and North America, till Oct. 1814. In March of the latter year the Antelope, while endeavouring to force the Hondt passage, grounded abreast of Flushing, where she lay exposed for 48 hours to an incessant discharge of shells from the batteries, until at length got off through the most extraordinary exertions. Mr. Baker afterwards served, on the Canadian lakes, in the St. Lawrence 98, bearing the broad pendant successively of Commodores Sir Jas. Lucas Yeo and Sir Edw. W. C. R. Owen; was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant 6 Feb. 1815; and since the following April, when he invalided home, has been on half-pay. Agent – J. Hinxman.