Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-03
GEORGE +. BAKER,
DEAN OF FINANCE,
SUCCUMBS AT 81
Pneumonia of Two Days
Claims Director of Many
Banks and Utilities.
WEALTH RATED THIRD
LARGEST IN WORLD
'Philanthropies and Feats in Bust
ness often Subject of
Discussion.
10 tl,. AssncIated press.

BY the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, May George F.
Baker, philanthropist and dean Oh
American finsnciers. died OF pneumonia
At 8 O'Clock tonight at his home, 2oo
Madison avenue. He was 81 years old.
Mr.. Baker died peacefully. He had
been unconscious for several hours. Al
his bedside were his son, George r.
jr.: his daughter, Mrs. Goadby LoeW
and his grandchildren.
The aged chairman of the board OF
the First National Bank and director
Of the United States Steel Corporation
was stricken Thursday after his usual
active day downtown. He complained
az chills and yesterday morning MS con-
dition rapidly grew worse.
Rated AS Third Richest.
The man who once admitted his
financial strength was so great that no
large enterprise could be carried through
without first winning his confidence
and that of j. P. Morgan, had kept his
interest to the last in many of the 40
or more corporations in which he was
afiliated. His wealth had been placed
nv acuuaintances variously at from
1900 600 600 to $500 100000. He was
rated by many to be the third richesI
man In the world, only Henry Ford and
John d. Rockefeller being CONCEDED
more wealth. Few besides Rockefeller
riyalIed him in gifts to charity
On Thursday Mr.. Baker attended a
meeting of the directorates. This after
noon his secretary, George RysaVy, Is
sued statement which SAID
''Mr. Baker was at business Inurs-
day. He developed pneumonia that
evening. He has grown steadily worse
and his condition is now serious.
At 8:2T pm, Mr.. Rysavy gave out
aMr. George F. BAKER passed away
peacefully tonight at o'clock"
Relatives Gather at Home.
soon after the first statement. rela-
tives began arriving at the old brown
stone mansion Among the first was
his son. Then came his grandson
George Baker st, George Of Tuxedo
Park, followed by his wife. the former
Katharine Delano Price Collier. They
joined Mrs Goaby Loew, who had been
with her father before his illness.
DR.. Ellis B. Foster and DR.. George D.
Stewart for whom the financier created
the 100000 George David Stewart
Foundation, were in attendance.
The banker lapsed into unconscious
ness late in the day. Three doctors re-
NAMED constantly at his bedside to the
end.
Baker returned few weeks ago from
his Winter home on Jekyll Island, of
the Georgia coast. He then was ap-
parently in the best of health After
spending Thursday at his desk in the
First National Bank, OF which ne was
president, he was seized with chill in
the evening and pneumonia developed
rapidly. A score of years ago ne was
regarded as j. P. Morgan's chief ally.
On the death Of Morgan it was reported
that Baker controlled interests valued
at 1885,, 100000.
Only Son Follows Path.
Widowed many years ago, he had
only one son, named for him, VINO iol-
lows in his footsteps.
Baker was born in Troy. N. Z. He
once held a S2-a-week clerkship, Com
ing to New York in his youth, Baker
Immediately entered the banking field
and gave all Of his life TO financial mat
tiers. He had been Spartan-like in his
devotion to his business affairs, going
10 ms once early mornings anu staying
late into the night
His benefactions have to'aled hun
dreds of millions Schools colleges
hospitals and art centers have shared
his bounty. His gifts TO Harvard Uni
versity totaled many millions, Baker
Field. Columbia University was his gift
The first Baker, Richard, came u
America on the Batchlor, a small
Morse bark Of Is tons, landing at Boston
II days after embarking from Graves
end, England on November 90, 1885.
In 1889 this hardy adyenturer in z
new world became a member Of tht
church in Dorchester and a short time
later married the ruling elders daugh'
ter, Faith Wilmington, whose parent
were Of some distinction in the colony
Six Generations in Town.
The family remained in Dorcheste
FOR six generations. The John Baker
a wheelwright. went 10 Dedham II
miles away, where he married Patti
Ellis in 1915. Six children we're bori
TO them The eldest, George Eli
Baker, born in 1916, was the father 0
George Fisher Baker, who was 70 be
come a colossus Of finance.
When less than 20. George Eli
Continued Oh Page g. Column H.