Charles D. Baker (attorney)
Encyclopedia
Charles Duane Baker was an Assistant United States Attorney
and a member of the New York State Assembly
(1885–1887). He was the grandfather and great-grandfather of Massachusetts politicians Charles D. Baker
(born 1928) and Charles D. Baker, Jr.
(born 1956), respectively.
in Steuben County
, New York
. His mother, Elizabeth (Fleming) Baker, was the daughter of John Fleming, an early Painted Post settler. His father, Harrison H. Baker, was a millwright who became a lumber manufacturer later in his life. Growing up, Baker attended local public schools. He spent two years at Overland College before attending Cornell University
in Ithaca, New York
. He graduated from Cornell with a Bachelor of Arts
in 1874. He was admitted to the bar in 1876.
He was elected to the New York State Assembly
in 1884, where he served three terms representing the Second Steuben
district. Around 1889 he was appointed Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York. He resigned in 1895 to return to private law, but was again appointed to the office several years later and served until 1908. In 1910 he was appointed by United States Attorney General
George Woodward Wickersham to be special counsel and attorney for the newly organized New York City
Department of Justice.
In January 1883 he married Letitia Beattie Rock. They had three children, Charles Duane, Jr., David Dudley Field, and Caroline Beattie. Charles Jr. (c. 1890–1971) had another son named Charles D. Baker
(born 1928), who served as a U.S. government official under Ronald Reagan
and Richard Nixon
administrations. His son, Charles D. Baker, Jr.
(born 1956) was a Massachusetts government official.
Baker died April 23, 1934 at St. Luke's Hospital
in New York City
. He was buried in Painted Post.
United States Attorney
United States Attorneys represent the United States federal government in United States district court and United States court of appeals. There are 93 U.S. Attorneys stationed throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands...
and a member of the New York State Assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
(1885–1887). He was the grandfather and great-grandfather of Massachusetts politicians Charles D. Baker
Charles D. Baker (businessman)
Charles Duane Baker is an American businessman and former U.S. government official. He served in several departmental roles in the Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan administrations, including Under Secretary of Health and Human Services . He is a resident of Needham, Massachusetts, and is the father...
(born 1928) and Charles D. Baker, Jr.
Charles D. Baker, Jr.
Charles Duane "Charlie" Baker, Jr. , is an American businessman and politician from Massachusetts. He was a cabinet official under two Massachusetts governors, spent ten years as CEO of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, and was the Republican candidate in the 2010 Massachusetts gubernatorial...
(born 1956), respectively.
Biography
Baker was born September 17, 1846 in the village of Painted PostPainted Post, New York
Painted Post is a village in Steuben County, New York, United States. The village is in the town of Erwin, west of the city of Corning. The population was 1,842 at the 2000 census. The name comes from a painted and carved post found by explorers at the junction of three local rivers...
in Steuben County
Steuben County, New York
Steuben County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 98,990. Its name is in honor of Baron von Steuben, a German general who fought on the American side in the American Revolutionary War, though it is not pronounced the same...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. His mother, Elizabeth (Fleming) Baker, was the daughter of John Fleming, an early Painted Post settler. His father, Harrison H. Baker, was a millwright who became a lumber manufacturer later in his life. Growing up, Baker attended local public schools. He spent two years at Overland College before attending Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
in Ithaca, New York
Ithaca, New York
The city of Ithaca, is a city in upstate New York and the county seat of Tompkins County, as well as the largest community in the Ithaca-Tompkins County metropolitan area...
. He graduated from Cornell with a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1874. He was admitted to the bar in 1876.
He was elected to the New York State Assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
in 1884, where he served three terms representing the Second Steuben
Steuben County, New York
Steuben County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 98,990. Its name is in honor of Baron von Steuben, a German general who fought on the American side in the American Revolutionary War, though it is not pronounced the same...
district. Around 1889 he was appointed Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York. He resigned in 1895 to return to private law, but was again appointed to the office several years later and served until 1908. In 1910 he was appointed by United States Attorney General
United States Attorney General
The United States Attorney General is the head of the United States Department of Justice concerned with legal affairs and is the chief law enforcement officer of the United States government. The attorney general is considered to be the chief lawyer of the U.S. government...
George Woodward Wickersham to be special counsel and attorney for the newly organized New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
Department of Justice.
In January 1883 he married Letitia Beattie Rock. They had three children, Charles Duane, Jr., David Dudley Field, and Caroline Beattie. Charles Jr. (c. 1890–1971) had another son named Charles D. Baker
Charles D. Baker (businessman)
Charles Duane Baker is an American businessman and former U.S. government official. He served in several departmental roles in the Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan administrations, including Under Secretary of Health and Human Services . He is a resident of Needham, Massachusetts, and is the father...
(born 1928), who served as a U.S. government official under Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
and Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
administrations. His son, Charles D. Baker, Jr.
Charles D. Baker, Jr.
Charles Duane "Charlie" Baker, Jr. , is an American businessman and politician from Massachusetts. He was a cabinet official under two Massachusetts governors, spent ten years as CEO of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, and was the Republican candidate in the 2010 Massachusetts gubernatorial...
(born 1956) was a Massachusetts government official.
Baker died April 23, 1934 at St. Luke's Hospital
St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center
St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, an academic affiliate of Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, is a 1,076-bed, full-service community and tertiary care hospital serving New York City’s Midtown West, Upper West Side and parts of Harlem....
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. He was buried in Painted Post.