New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-10-12
William Baker.


This old citizen passed from among us on
Sunday last, and it is proper that we should
pay some tribute of respect to his memory.
He was born in Devonshirc. England, in
1890, and came to this city in 1853. He live d
on his fathers farm at his birth place until
eleven years of age, when the family re.
moved to London. Here he attended school
for about six months. This was all the
regular schooling he ever had. At fourteen
he was apprenticed to manufacturer of
mathematical instruments, where he became
thorough mechanic, master of the business
and one of the best workmen in England.
During his apprenticeship be read much
and attended the lectures of many scientific
societies, was member of the Tower Street
Mutual instruction Society of London, and
Others of like character, where he studied
botany, geology, anatomy, and especially
chemistry, for which he displayed consider
able talent, and in which he became pro
ficient, afterward putting his knowledge
, into practice and continuing the study of
this favorite science up to the time of his
death.
In politics he always stood in the ad-
vanced ranks, taking an active part while
yet young man in the English corn law
agitations, and also as a member of several
Political societies which were formed in
England between 1910 and 1850, to maintain
freedom of opinion and to better the condi-
tion of the working classes. In this count v,
as an unwavering Republican, he advocated
for all men an equal protection under the
laws and an equal enjoyment of the bene-
fits of free institutions.
Becoming of age, he made tour of Sect.
land for his health, doing it entirely on TO IT,
and combining pleasure with the business
of selling books. While in Edinburg he
became practical printer, at which trade
he afterward worked in London, in New
York, and upon every newspaper published
in this city before the war, both in English
and French. In 1850 he emigrated with his
family to New York, where he continued
his business of mathematical instrument
maker until the panic of 1857, when he re-
moved to New Orleans. Here his energy wen
him many friends in the several capacities
of merchant, street commissioner, deputy
collector, etc.
In the administration of the several
offices of trust confded to him in this city,
he displayed an energy and fearlessness
which, though it made HIM enemies for the
time, eventually gave him greater num-
Der of firm friends, and his record as a pub
lie servant stands to-day without blemish,
and an example that might well be copied.
He was a correct and tiuent writer on DO
litical and other topics, was correspondent
of the New York Tribune from this CITY for
number of years, and as a frequent con.
tributor to the New Orleans REPUBLICAN
his articles have attracted attention.
William Baker was essentially a selfmade
man, and few, even with a college educa-
ton. succeed in obtaining so thorough
knowledge of general literature, as well as
of the al IS and manufactures. About three
years since be went to the parish of st.
Tammany and cultivated small farm, and
while there contracted the illness which
ultimately caused his death. He was buri d
yesterday with Masonic honors, and leaves
many to mourn the loss of good citizen
and an honest man.