Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-05
RITES FOR ADMIRAL
BAIRD WEDNESDAY
Veteran, 81, to Be Buried
With Both Military and
Masonic HonorS.

Funeral services for Rear Admiral
George Washington Baird, 81 years Old
u. S. NJ, retired, who died at his home,
1905 Rhode Island avenue, yesterday,
will be conducted at the chapel of
Joseph Gawlers Sons, 1854 PennSyl-
vania avenue, Wednesday afternoon at
2 o'clock. DR.. John c. Palmer will off,
ciate.
Interment will be in Arlington Gene
terry, with full military honorS and Ma
sonic rites at the grave. The Masonic
ceremony will be by the Grand Lodge
of Masons of the District of Columbia,
of which Admiral Baird was the oldest
past grand master.
Admiral Baird installed the electric
plant in the u. S. S. Albatross, the first
Government ship of any nation to have
such apparatus. He also installed the
first electric lighting system in the
White House and in other public build
ings around Washington.
Inventor of Note.
An inventor of note, Admiral Baird
invented the fresh-water distiller. evap-
orator and other machines that bear
his name. He also designed the first
capstan engine used in the Navy. In.
addition, he is credited with having in
vented the system of ventilating ships
by drawing the air out from below
decks. In his capacity as engineer he
also had a prominent part in the de-
velopment of many high-powered ship
engines and other equipment.
Admiral Baird had the distinction of
being one of the first nine persons APP
pointed to the District of Columbia
Board of Education, under the present
method of appointments by the justices
of the District of Columbia Supreme
Court. in 1906. He was Immediately
elected president, making him the first
president of the board under the new
system. Prior to 1906 the board menls
Commissioners.
Admiral Baird was past president of
the District of Columbia Society of the
Sons of the American Revolution, a
member of the American Society of
Engineers, the Washington Society of
Engineers and the Society of Naval
Architects and Marine Engineers. He
also was a member of the Cosmos Club
and in January, 1922 he was appointed
member of Perry's Victory Memorial
Commission.
Masonic Grand Master.
He served as grand master of the
Grand Lodge of Masons in the Dis
trict of Columbia in 1896 In addition
master. he was affiliated with various
other Masonic bodies and in 1906 was
elected a thirty-third degree Mason.
He was past master of Hope Lodge, No.
20, F. A. A. M, having served as mas
ter in 1888; was past high priest of
Washington Centennial Chapter, Royal
Arch Masons. and member of Wash
ington Commandery. knights Templar,
At the time of his death he was chair
man of the committee on correspond
ence of the Grand Lodge of Masons,
having served in that office since 1900.
Admiral Baird was appointed to the
Navy as third assistant engineer in
1862. Due to his engineering ability,
he was appointed second assistant en-
gineer In 1866 on the u S. S. Sham
rock. In 1869 he was stationed at Mare
Island, Calf In 1892 he was promot-
ed to the grade of chief engineer and
in 1899 was transferred to the line in
the Navy. with the grade of COM
mander. He was made a captain in
1902
He was retired in 1905 and on April
Is, 1911, he was commissioned on the
retired list with the rank of admiral,
under the act of March 4 1911, to date
from the time of his retirement.
Civil War Veteran.
During the Civil War he served on
the Mississippi. Calhoun and Pensacola