The Biographical Dictionary of America/Baker, Lafayette C.

BAKER, Lafayette C., secret service officer, was born at Stafford, N.Y., Oct. 13, 1826; son of Remember Ethan Baker, and grandson of Remember Baker, the companion of Ethan Allen. He removed to Michigan in 1839, and later returned to New York, working in that city and in Philadelphia as a mechanic. He emigrated to California in 1853; joined the noted vigilance committee of San Francisco, in 1856, and in 1861 offered his services to the government and worked for the government in the capacity of detective for a year, and for his services was commissioned colonel and made the head of the secret service bureau. At the time of President Lincoln's assassination, Mr. Baker brought about the capture of the assassin and his accomplices, in a very short time. In 1865 he was commissioned a brigadier-general. He is author of an interesting volume entitled "History of the United States Secret Service" (1867). He died in Philadelpha, Pa., July 2, 1868.