John Baker (representative)

John Baker (1769 – August 18, 1823) was an American politician and lawyer who represented Virginia in the United States House of Representatives from 1811 to 1813.

John Baker
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Virginia's 2nd district
In office
March 4, 1811 – March 4, 1813
Preceded byJames Stephenson
Succeeded byFrancis White
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates
from the Berkeley County district
In office
1798–1799
Serving with Magnus Tate
Personal details
Born1769 (1769)
Frederick County, Province of Maryland, British America
DiedAugust 18, 1823(1823-08-18) (aged 53–54)
Shepherdstown, Virginia, U.S. (now West Virginia)
Resting placeOld Episcopal Church Cemetery
Political partyFederalist
SpouseAnn Mark
Alma materWashington College
Occupation
  • Lawyer
  • politician

Early life

edit

John Baker was born in 1769[1] in Frederick County in the Province of Maryland.[2] He attended Washington College (now Washington and Lee University), Lexington, Virginia for three years. Later, he studied law and was admitted to the bar.[2]

Career

edit

Baker began a law practice in Berkeley County, Virginia (now Jefferson County, West Virginia).[2]

Baker was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates from 1798 to 1799. He was one of the lawyers who defended Aaron Burr when he was tried for treason.[2] He was elected as a Federalist to the Twelfth Congress (March 4, 1811 – March 3, 1813) with 56.44% of the vote, defeating Democratic-Republican Daniel Morgan. After leaving Congress, he resumed the practice of law. He was the commonwealth attorney for Jefferson County.[2][citation needed]

Personal life

edit

Baker married Ann Mark, daughter of John Mark. His daughter Ann married Governor Thomas Walker Gilmer.[3]

Baker died on August 18, 1823, in Shepherdstown, Jefferson County, Virginia (now West Virginia). He is buried in the Old Episcopal Church Cemetery.[2]

References

edit
  1. ^ History of Berkeley County, p. 220
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Baker, John". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
  3. ^ Lyon Gardiner Tyler (1915). Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography. Vol. 2. pp. 97–98. Retrieved September 7, 2024 – via Archive.org. 
edit
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Virginia's 2nd congressional district

1811–1813
Succeeded by