Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-04
ADMIRAL BAIRD,
RETIRED, EXPIRES
Formerly President of D. C.
Board of Education and
Long Prominent Here.

Rear Admiral George Washington
Baird. U. S. N, retired, noted naval
inventor, former president of the Dis
trict of Columbia Board of Education
and long prominently identified with
various organizations here. died at his
home, 1905 Rhode Island avenue. today
after long Illness. He was 81 years
old.
Admiral Baird was the oldest past
grand master of the Grand Lodge Of
Masons in the District of Columbia in
seniority, having served in 1896 He
was thirty-third degree Mason. He
also was former president of the Dis
trict of Columbia Society Sons of the
American Revolution.
He was native of this city and edu-
Gated here and at the Naval Academy.
He was appointed third assistant en-
gineer, u. S. N, in 1862, and was pro-
NOTED through the various grades, re-
firing with the rank of rear admiral In
1905.
He was a member of the American
Society of Engineers, the Washington
Society of Engineers and the Society of
Naval Architects and Marine Engineers.
Club.
Admiral Baird's wife, Mrs. Lila Baird,
died about four years ago. He leaves
q cousin, Maj. Overton c. Huxford, of
this city, and niece in Baltimore.
One Of First on Board.
Admiral Baird was one of the first
nine persons appointed to the District
of Columbia Board of Education, under
tto Of t,aty, 20 Axy
the justices of the District of Columbia
Supreme Court, in 1906. He was i'm
mediately elected president, thus having
been the first educational board presi-
dent under the new system. Prior TO
1906. the board members were appointed
by the District Commissioners.
The poSseSsor of a long and distin-
guished career in the Navy, Admiral
Baird was noted for his engineering
achievements and inventions while IN
the service.
Naval officials recalled today that
Admiral Baird installed the electric
lighting in the White House and other
public buildings in Washington. He
invented the fresh water distiller,
evaporation and other machines that
bear his name and he designed the first
capstan engine used in the Navy. He
is credited with having invented the
system of ventilating ships by drawing
the air out from below decks and In his
capacity as an engineer, he had 9
prominent part in the development Of
many high-powered ship engines and
other naval equipment.
During the Civil War he served On
the Mississippi, Calhoun and Pensa-
cola in the west Gulf blockade and
took part in more than 20 engagements.
Annnfntx,.ank g. rocc
Due to his engineering ability, he was
appointed second assistant engineer on
the U. S. S. Shamrock in 1866. In
1869 he was stationed for awhile at
Mare Island, Calf. He was promoted
to the grade of chief engineer in 1892
and in 1899 was transferred to the line
in the Navy with the grade of COM
mander. He subsequently was made
captain in 1902. Shortly before the
Spanish-American War he was assist
ant superintendent of the State. War
and Navy Building and later super
intendent. While serving with the
grade Of chief engineer, he was sta
toned at the Navy Yard here. This
was about the time of the war with
Spain.
Admiral Baird took prominent part
in the installation of incandescent lights
aboard the U. S. S. Albatross. the first
ship to be equipped with the new
lights.
A deep student of various scientific
and engineering problems, Admiral
Baird had written extensively on these,
some his own inventions. Among the
important articles of which he was
author were Absorption of Gases by
Water and the Organic Matter Con-
tanned Therein" An Improved Dis
tilling Apparatus for Steamships" IA
Pneumatic Steering Gear" and "Ven-
tilation of Ships"
He also was the author of ''F1ight
of Flying Fish," which caused French
scientist to state that it remained for
the American naval of1cer to prove.
by mechanics, the flight Of this type
of fish.
High in Masonry.
Besides having served as grand mas
ter of Masons of the District of Co
lumbia, Admiral Baird was past master
having served as master in 1888; was
past high priest of Washington Gen.
tennial Chapter, Royal Arch MasonS
and member of Washington Com
mandery, knights Templar. He was
elected thirty-third degree Mason in
1906. At the time of his death he was
chairman of the Committee on Cor
T6SpOIluSIlCS Ol bIlc NITdIlQ LOQBG OF
Masons. having served continuously
since 1900.
Admiral Baird was the third oldest
admiral on the retired list of the Navy.
Rear Admiral Benjamin Franklin Day,
who was born on January 16, 1841, and
now lives at Buena Vista, Va, is cred
tied with being the second oldest adj
niral on the retired list, the first place
being held by Rear Admiral John Lowe,
who was born on December IL, 1888,
and makes his home at Biddeford, Me-,
but has been living recently in Wash
ington.
Besides having served on a number
of famous old ships, and in 1882, he
served with the Fish Commission, doing
duty aboard the Albatross.
On April IS, 1911, Admiral Baird was
commissioned on the retired list, with
the rank of rear admiral to date from
April %. 1905, under the act of March
4. 1911. He was appointed In January,
1922, as a member of Perrys Victory
Memorial Commission.
Funeral arrangements are to be an
nounced later.