John Baker
John Baker, c. 1869
2nd Premier of South Australia
In office
21 August 1857 – 1 September 1857
MonarchVictoria
GovernorSir Richard MacDonnell
Preceded byBoyle Travers Finniss
Succeeded byRobert Torrens
Personal details
Born(1813-12-28)28 December 1813
Ilminster, Somerset, England, UK
Died19 May 1872(1872-05-19) (aged 58)
Magill, Adelaide, South Australia
SpouseIsabella Allan (1838–1872)
Children12

John Baker (28 December 1813 – 19 May 1872) was an early South Australian pastoralist and politician. He was the second Premier of the colony of South Australia, succeeding Boyle Travers Finniss; however, he only held office for 12 days from 21 August to 1 September 1857 before being succeeded by the third Premier of the colony, Robert Torrens.

Early life

John Baker was born at Ilminster in Somerset, England, on 28 December 1813 to Richard Chaffey Baker and his wife Mary, née Anstice (c. 1885 – 24 August 1849).[a] He emigrated to Van Diemen's Land in 1838, and married Isabella Allan on 7 June 1838.[1]

Pastoralist

In 1838 Baker visited the new settlement at Adelaide and in the following year returned and took up land in South Australia. In partnership with the South Australian Company he imported large numbers of sheep from Tasmania. By late 1840 he owned horses, cattle and four thousand sheep, and was a director of the Adelaide Auction Co., associated with Jacob Hagen in that and other business ventures. He founded a racing stud based on Falklandina and Actaeon, the first thoroughbred mare and stallion brought into the colony.[2] In 1850 he became a justice of the peace, a special magistrate and a director of the Savings Bank, and helped found and became first chairman of the South Australian Chamber of Commerce. Over the next decade he further developed his pastoral interests. In 1863 he bought Terlinga, having previously sold many of his leases, and made it his head station. The severe drought of 1864-65 drastically reduced his stock, but a revaluation of his runs resulted in lower rents and he continued as a leading pastoralist.[1] In 1869 he bred a thoroughbred race horse named Don Juan, that would go on to win the 1873 Melbourne Cup.[3]

Political and public life

Baker was a member of the South Australian Legislative Council from 1851 to 1856, the first to be part elective, representing Mount Barker. When responsible government was established in 1857 he became a member of the new Legislative Council, winning the second largest vote. He served in the Council until 1861, and from 1863 until his death in 1872. He was Premier and chief secretary in the second South Australian ministry.[4] While this lasted only 12 days, from 21 August to 1 September 1857, it ushered in an important agreement between the Council and the House of Assembly on the amendment of money bills.[1]

Baker took part in the selection of the site of the Adelaide Botanic Gardens and was later a trustee. He was three times president of the Agricultural and Horticultural Society and a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society of London. In 1854 he helped form a volunteer company of mounted rifles, later becoming a lieutenant-colonel in the force, in which he served until it was disbanded in 1868. He also ran a racing stud.[1]

He was for a time treasurer of Adelaide's Unitarian Christian Church, and on 23 December 1856 laid the foundation stone of the church building on Wakefield Street opposite St Francis Xavier's Cathedral.[5]

Family

John Baker (1813–1872) married Isabella Allan (24 July 1819 – 6 April 1908) on 7 June 1838 in Allanvale, Tasmania. She was a daughter of Isabella Allan (died 1871) and George Allan of "Allan Vale", Launceston, Tasmania, and later "Allan Vale", near Geelong, Victoria. Their family included:

They had a home "Morialta", near Norton Summit, which served as Governor Sir William Jervois's summer residence while Marble Hill was being built. John Baker died at "Morialta"; Isabella died in London.

Mary Baker, who married Jacob Hagen, was a sister.[8]

His brother James Baker and brother-in-law Aeneas Allan were managers of several of their pastoral properties.

Notes

  1. ^ Baker's father died in Lopen, Somerset; his mother died at Baker's residence "Morialta"

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Baker, John (1813–1872)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. 1969. ISSN 1833-7538. Retrieved 29 November 2016.
  2. ^ "Obituary". The Evening Journal (Adelaide). Vol. XXXVI, no. 10210. South Australia. 7 October 1903. p. 2. Retrieved 29 March 2019 – via Trove.
  3. ^ "Race records of champion racehorses". racehorsetalk.com.au. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  4. ^ "John Baker". Former members of the Parliament of South Australia. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  5. ^ "Unitarianism". South Australian Register. Vol. XX, no. 3189. South Australia. 24 December 1856. p. 3. Retrieved 14 February 2017 – via Trove.
  6. ^ "Family Notices". The Adelaide Express. 26 December 1865. p. 2. Retrieved 21 November 2016 – via Trove.
  7. ^ Stephen, Downs (2005). "Baker, Elizabeth Anstice (Bessie) (1849–1914)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISSN 1833-7538. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
  8. ^ Margaret M. Press Three Women of Faith Wakefield Press, Adelaide (2000) ISBN 186254526X

 

South Australian Legislative Council Preceded byThomas O'HalloranWilliam ScottGeorge Tinline Member of the South Australian Legislative Council 1851–1861 Served alongside: Multiple Members Succeeded byJohn BarrowWilliam PeacockJudah Solomon Preceded byThomas O'HalloranCharles Sturt Member of the South Australian Legislative Council 1863–1872 Served alongside: Multiple Members Succeeded byWalter DuffieldWilliam EverardAlexander HayRobert Tarlton Political offices Preceded byBoyle Finniss Premier of South Australia 1857 Succeeded byRobert Torrens Chief Secretary of South Australia 1857
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