Joseph Allen Baker
Encyclopedia
Joseph Allen Baker was a Canadian
born engineer
, specialising in machinery for the confectionery
and bakery
industries and later in transportation systems, who was also a Liberal Party
politician in London
.
the son of Joseph Baker, an engineer. The Baker family were Quakers
by religion. Baker was educated at Trenton High School. In 1878 he married Elizabeth Moscrip of Morebattle
, Kelso, Roxburghshire
. They had three sons and four daughters.
but the trade expanded and, in 1890 a move was made to a large, newly built engineering works in Hythe Road, Willesden
, where it remained for the next 43 years. As Quakers, the Baker family tried to run a model business taking a paternal interest in the welfare of their workforce and introducing schemes such as shorter working days, encouraging employees to participate in health and insurance plans and fostering a relaxed approach on the shop floor, perhaps to the detriment of profits. The company had interests in Britain, Canada, Australia and the USA.
Baker was prominently connected with the tramways
in London and the extension of the tramway system in the London County Council
area. He published special reports on tramway traction and recommended the conduit
system for London. Baker and Sons also had connections to the motor car
industry and in around 1902, the company held an agency for the American car manufacturers Stevens-Duryea
. They later designed and built their own lorry for deliveries to the London docks. Baker & Sons merged with Perkins Engineers Ltd in 1919 to form Baker Perkins
Ltd.
from 1895-1906. During his time on the LCC he acted as Chairman of the Highways Committee.
At the general election of 1900
Baker contested the East Finsbury constituency for the Liberal Party but could not unseat the sitting Unionist
MP, Henry Charles Richards. Richards died in 1905 causing a by-election
and Baker was selected to fight the division again. He won the by-election, which was held on 29 June 1905, with a majority of 768 votes and held his seat at each subsequent general election
until his death.
in the early hours of 3 July 1918, following a seizure in the House of Commons
two days before. He was succeeded as Chairman of Baker and Sons by his eldest son, Allan R. Baker. His death caused a by-election in East Finsbury
which was won for the Liberal Party by H.E.A.Cotton, who, like Baker was a former Progressive member of the LCC although he stood for election as a Government candidate.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
born engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
, specialising in machinery for the confectionery
Confectionery
Confectionery is the set of food items that are rich in sugar, any one or type of which is called a confection. Modern usage may include substances rich in artificial sweeteners as well...
and bakery
Bakery
A bakery is an establishment which produces and sells flour-based food baked in an oven such as bread, cakes, pastries and pies. Some retail bakeries are also cafés, serving coffee and tea to customers who wish to consume the baked goods on the premises.-See also:*Baker*Cake...
industries and later in transportation systems, who was also a Liberal Party
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
politician in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
Family and education
Joseph Allen Baker was born at Maple Ridge Farm in Trenton, OntarioTrenton, Ontario
Trenton is a community in Southern Ontario in the municipality of Quinte West, Ontario, Canada. Located on the Bay of Quinte, it is the main population centre in Quinte West....
the son of Joseph Baker, an engineer. The Baker family were Quakers
Religious Society of Friends
The Religious Society of Friends, or Friends Church, is a Christian movement which stresses the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers. Members are known as Friends, or popularly as Quakers. It is made of independent organisations, which have split from one another due to doctrinal differences...
by religion. Baker was educated at Trenton High School. In 1878 he married Elizabeth Moscrip of Morebattle
Morebattle
Morebattle is a village in the Scottish Borders area of Scotland, on the B6401, seven miles south of Kelso, Scottish Borders, beside the Kale Water, a tributary of the River Teviot.The nearby Linton Loch was drained in the 19th century to improve agriculture....
, Kelso, Roxburghshire
Roxburghshire
Roxburghshire or the County of Roxburgh is a registration county of Scotland. It borders Dumfries to the west, Selkirk to the north-west, and Berwick to the north. To the south-east it borders Cumbria and Northumberland in England.It was named after the Royal Burgh of Roxburgh...
. They had three sons and four daughters.
Career
Baker followed his father’s professional footsteps and entered the family engineering business. He left Canada for London in 1878 and established a firm, Baker & Sons, with his brothers, of which he became Chairman in 1892 on the death of his father. In 1879 they set up business in FinsburyFinsbury
Finsbury is a district of central London, England. It lies immediately north of the City of London and Clerkenwell, west of Shoreditch, and south of Islington and City Road. It is in the south of the London Borough of Islington. The Finsbury Estate is in the western part of the district...
but the trade expanded and, in 1890 a move was made to a large, newly built engineering works in Hythe Road, Willesden
Willesden
Willesden is an area in North West London which forms part of the London Borough of Brent. It is situated 5 miles north west of Charing Cross...
, where it remained for the next 43 years. As Quakers, the Baker family tried to run a model business taking a paternal interest in the welfare of their workforce and introducing schemes such as shorter working days, encouraging employees to participate in health and insurance plans and fostering a relaxed approach on the shop floor, perhaps to the detriment of profits. The company had interests in Britain, Canada, Australia and the USA.
Baker was prominently connected with the tramways
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
in London and the extension of the tramway system in the London County Council
London County Council
London County Council was the principal local government body for the County of London, throughout its 1889–1965 existence, and the first London-wide general municipal authority to be directly elected. It covered the area today known as Inner London and was replaced by the Greater London Council...
area. He published special reports on tramway traction and recommended the conduit
Electrical conduit
An electrical conduit is an electrical piping system used for protection and routing of electrical wiring. Electrical conduit may be made of metal, plastic, fiber, or fired clay. Flexible conduit is available for special purposes....
system for London. Baker and Sons also had connections to the motor car
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
industry and in around 1902, the company held an agency for the American car manufacturers Stevens-Duryea
Stevens-Duryea
Stevens-Duryea was an American manufacturer of automobiles in Chicopee Falls, Massachusetts between 1901 and 1915 and from 1919 to 1927.The company was founded after a falling-out between J. Frank Duryea and his brother Charles in 1898...
. They later designed and built their own lorry for deliveries to the London docks. Baker & Sons merged with Perkins Engineers Ltd in 1919 to form Baker Perkins
Baker Perkins
Baker Perkins Ltd is a machine manufacturing company based mainly in Peterborough.-History:The company has its origins with Jacob Perkins , an American inventor. His son, Angier March Perkins , founded the firm of A. M. Perkins & Co Ltd to manufacture his inventions...
Ltd.
Politics
Baker represented East Finsbury on the London County Council (LCC) as a ProgressiveProgressive Party (London)
The Progressive Party was a political party based around the Liberal Party that contested municipal elections in the County of London.It was founded in 1888 by a group of Liberals and leaders of the labour movement. It was also supported by the Fabian Society, and Sidney Webb was one of its...
from 1895-1906. During his time on the LCC he acted as Chairman of the Highways Committee.
At the general election of 1900
United Kingdom general election, 1900
-Seats summary:-See also:*MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1900*The Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885-1918-External links:***-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987**...
Baker contested the East Finsbury constituency for the Liberal Party but could not unseat the sitting Unionist
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
MP, Henry Charles Richards. Richards died in 1905 causing a by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
and Baker was selected to fight the division again. He won the by-election, which was held on 29 June 1905, with a majority of 768 votes and held his seat at each subsequent general election
General election
In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
until his death.
Peace and religious work
As a Quaker, Baker was committed to peace and religious harmony. He initiated and organized an interchange of visits between representatives of the Christian churches of Great Britain and Germany in the interests of international peace and closer friendship. He was Chairman of the Executive Committee of the British Council of the Associated Councils of Churches in the British and German Empires for Fostering Friendly Relations and Chairman of the Executive Committee of the British Group of the World Alliance of Churches for Promoting International Friendship. He was also sometime President of the London Adult Schools’ Union and was a strong supporter of temperance.Death
Baker died in Westminster HospitalWestminster Hospital
Westminster Hospital was a hospital in London, England, founded in 1719. In 1834 a medical school attached to the hospital was formally founded....
in the early hours of 3 July 1918, following a seizure in the House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
two days before. He was succeeded as Chairman of Baker and Sons by his eldest son, Allan R. Baker. His death caused a by-election in East Finsbury
Finsbury East by-election, 1918
The Finsbury East by-election, 1918 was a parliamentary by-election held for the House of Commons constituency of East Finsbury in north London on 16 July 1918.-Vacancy:...
which was won for the Liberal Party by H.E.A.Cotton, who, like Baker was a former Progressive member of the LCC although he stood for election as a Government candidate.