John Baker (Australian politician): Difference between revisions

{{Use Australiandmy Englishdates|date=NovemberAugust 20162021}}

|honorific-prefix = [[Lieutenant colonel|Lieutenant Colonel]]

|order office = 2nd[[Premier of South Australia]]

|predecessor = [[Boyle Travers Finniss|B.T. Finniss]]

|successor = [[Robert Richard Torrens|Robert Torrens]]

|birth_place = [[Ilminster]], [[Somerset]], [[England, UK]]

|death_place = [[Magill, South Australia|Magill]], [[Adelaide]], South Australia]]

'''John Baker''' (28 December 1813 – 19 May 1872) was an early South Australian [[Pastoralism|pastoralist]] and politician. He was the second [[Premiers of South Australia|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 Richard Torrens|Robert Torrens]].

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).{{efn|Baker's father died in Lopen, Somerset; his mother died at Baker's residence "Morialta"}} He emigrated to [[Tasmania|Van Diemen's Land]] in 1838, and married Isabella Allan on 7 June 1838.<ref name="ADB"/>

Also inIn 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 Co.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. In 1850 he became a [[justice of the peace]], aassociated special magistrate and a director of the Savings Bank, and helped found and became first chairman of the South Australianwith [[ChamberJacob of CommerceHagen]]. Overin the next decade he further developed his pastoral interests. In 1863 he bought ''Terlinga'', having previously sold many of his leases,that and madeother itbusiness his head stationventures. 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 [[Pastoralism|pastoralist]].

Baker was a member of the first, part-elective, [[South Australian Legislative Council]] from 1851 to 1856, the first to be part elective, representing [[Electoral district of Mount Barker|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 of South Australia|Premier]] and chief secretary in the second South Australian ministry.<ref name="SA parl">{{Cite SA-parl |pid=4061 |name=John Baker |former=yes |access-date=9 November 2022}}</ref> While this lasted only 12 days, from 21 August to 1 September 1857, it ushered in an important agreement between the Council and the [[South Australian House of Assembly|House of Assembly]] on the amendment of money bills.<ref name="ADB"/>

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 [[Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Society of South Australia|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.<ref name="ADB"/>

==External linksFamily==

{{s-bef|before=[[Thomas Shuldham O'Halloran|Thomas O'Halloran]]<br>[[William Scott (South Australian politician)|William Scott]]<br>[[George Tinline]]}}

{{s-ttl|title=Member of the [[South Australian Legislative Council]] | years=1851{{spaced ndash}}18611851–1861 | alongside=[[Members of the South Australian Legislative Council, 1857–1861|Multiple Members]]}}

{{s-ttl|title=Member of the [[South Australian Legislative Council]] | years=1863{{spaced ndash}}18721863–1872 | alongside=[[Members of the South Australian Legislative Council, 1861–1865|Multiple Members]]}}

{{s-aft | rows=2 | after=[[Robert Richard Torrens|Robert Torrens]]}}

[[Category:EnglishBritish emigrants to colonialVan AustraliaDiemen's Land]]