Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Baker, John (d.1745)
BAKER, JOHN, D.D. (d. 1745), vice-master of Trinity College, Cambridge, was admitted to Westminster School, on the foundation, in 1691, and thence elected to Trinity College in 1695 (B.A. 1698, M.A. 1702, B.D. 1709, D.D. comitiis regiis 1717). He was elected a minor fellow of Trinity 2 Oct. 1701, and a major fellow 17 April 1702 (Addit. MS. 5846 f. 123 b). In 1722 he was appointed vice-master of the college, and in 1731 rector of Dickleburgh in Norfolk. He also held the perpetual curacy of St. Mary's, Cambridge. Baker was the unscrupulous supporter of Dr. Hichard Bentley in all his measures, and rendered the master of Trinity great service by obtaining signatures in favour of the compromise between Bentley and Serjeant Miller in 1719. His subserviency to Bentley is ridiculed, in 'The Trinity College Triumph:'—
But Baker alone to the lodge was admitted.
Where he bow'd and he cring'd, and he smil'd and he prated.
He died 30 Oct, 1745, in Neville's Court in Trinity College, where, owing to pecuniary misfortunes, he had ceased to be vice-master, and was buried at All Saints' Church, Cambridge, according to directions given by him a few days before his death. His living of Dickleburgh had been sequestrated for the payment of his debts. 'He had been a great beau,' says Cole, the Cambridge antiquary, 'but latterly was as much the reverse of it, wearing four or five nightcaps under his wig and square cap, and a black cloak over his cloath gown and cassock, under which were various waistcoats, in the hottest weather' (Addit. MS. 5804, f. 81).
[Addit. MS. 5846, f. 118 b, 5863, f. 208; Graduati Cantabrigienses(1787), 18; Monk's Life of Bentley (1830), 401, 403; Blomefield's Norfolk (1805). i. 196; Gent. Mag. xlix. 640; Welch's Alumni Westmon. (Phillimore), 216, 229.]