John Baker | |
|---|---|
 John Baker, c. 1869 | |
| Premier of South Australia | |
| In office 21 August 1857 – 1 September 1857 | |
| Monarch | Victoria |
| Governor | Sir Richard MacDonnell |
| Preceded by | B.T. Finniss |
| Succeeded by | Robert Torrens |
| Member of the Legislative Council of South Australia | |
| In office 7 August 1863 – 18 May 1872 | |
| In office 8 July 1851 – 27 March 1861 | |
| Constituency | Mount Barker |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1813-12-28)28 December 1813 |
| Died | 19 May 1872(1872-05-19) (aged 58) |
| Spouse | Isabella Allan (1838–1872) |
| Children | 12 |
John Baker (28 December 1813 – 19 May 1872) was an early South Australianpastoralist and politician. He was the secondPremier of the colony of South Australia, succeedingBoyle 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 thecolony,Robert Torrens.
John Baker was born atIlminster inSomerset, England, on 28 December 1813 to Richard Chaffey Baker and his wife Mary, née Anstice (c. 1885 – 24 August 1849).[a] He emigrated toVan Diemen's Land in 1838, and married Isabella Allan on 7 June 1838.[1]
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 theSouth 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 withJacob Hagen in that and other business ventures. One of these was a whaling station atEncounter Bay that he operated between 1842-1846 in partnership with Hagan andJohn Hart.
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 ajustice of the peace, a special magistrate and a director of the Savings Bank, and helped found and became first chairman of theSouth 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 leadingpastoralist.[1] Other runs operated by Baker include "Mudlapina" and "Pernana", later known as "Angepina".[3]In 1869 he bred a thoroughbred race horse namedDon Juan, that would go on to win the 1873Melbourne Cup.[4]
Baker was a member of theSouth Australian Legislative Council from 1851 to 1856, the first to be part elective, representingMount 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 wasPremier and chief secretary in the second South Australian ministry.[5] While this lasted only 12 days, from 21 August to 1 September 1857, it ushered in an important agreement between the Council and theHouse of Assembly on the amendment of money bills.[1]
Baker took part in the selection of the site of theAdelaide Botanic Gardens and was later a trustee. He was three times president of theAgricultural and Horticultural Society and a fellow of theRoyal Geographical Society of London. In 1854 he helped form a volunteer company of mounted rifles, later becoming alieutenant-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'sUnitarian Christian Church, and on 23 December 1856 laid the foundation stone of the church building onWakefield Street oppositeSt Francis Xavier's Cathedral.[6]
John Baker (1813–1872) married Isabella Allan (24 July 1819 – 6 April 1908) on 7 June 1838 inAllanvale, Tasmania. She was a daughter of Isabella Allan (died 1871) and George Allan of "Allan Vale",Launceston, Tasmania, and later "Allan Vale", nearGeelong, Victoria. Their family included:
They had a home "Morialta", nearNorton Summit, which served as Governor SirWilliam Jervois's summer residence whileMarble Hill was being built. John Baker died at "Morialta"; Isabella died in London.
Mary Baker, who marriedJacob Hagen, was a sister.[9]
His brother James Baker and brother-in-law Aeneas Allan were managers of several of their pastoral properties.
| South Australian Legislative Council | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of theSouth Australian Legislative Council 1851–1861 Served alongside:Multiple Members | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member of theSouth Australian Legislative Council 1863–1872 Served alongside:Multiple Members | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Premier of South Australia 1857 | Succeeded by |
| Chief Secretary of South Australia 1857 | ||
