Ezekiel Baker
Encyclopedia
Ezekiel Baker was a master gunsmith
from Whitechapel, London, who became known for his design of the Baker rifle
in 1800.
The British Army
had been experimenting with rifles since the American Revolutionary War
but had found all available rifle designs either too fragile, cumbersome or slow firing to be able to use in a generalised war. On the 4th February 1800, a number of leading gun makers were invited to Woolwich
to trial their rifle designs by the Board of Ordnance
, who were responsible for the procurement of weaponry for the army. Bakers design was chosen and he was given an initial order for 800 rifles. In the same year, an "Experimental Corps of Riflemen", was raised by Colonel Coote Manningham
and Lieutenant-Colonel the Hon. William Stewart (1774–1827). The corps was manned by volunteer officers and soldiers from a variety of British regiments and militias, and would soon be renamed and normalised into the army under the name the 95th Rifles Regiment of Foot.
By 1810, four British battalion
s, two each of the 95th and 60th
Regiments, and several companies of the King's German Legion
were equipped with the Baker rifle.
The rifle was renowned for its accuracy and range. It was used throughout the Napoleonic Wars
and continued in service until the 1830s.
Baker later wrote a book on his experiences making and using rifles.
Gunsmith
A gunsmith is a person who repairs, modifies, designs, or builds firearms. This occupation is different from an armorer. The armorer primarily maintains weapons and limited repairs involving parts replacement and possibly work involving accurization...
from Whitechapel, London, who became known for his design of the Baker rifle
Baker rifle
The Baker rifle was a flintlock rifle used by the Rifle regiments of the British Army during the Napoleonic Wars. It was the first standard-issue, British-made rifle accepted by the British armed forces....
in 1800.
The British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
had been experimenting with rifles since the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
but had found all available rifle designs either too fragile, cumbersome or slow firing to be able to use in a generalised war. On the 4th February 1800, a number of leading gun makers were invited to Woolwich
Woolwich
Woolwich is a district in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.Woolwich formed part of Kent until 1889 when the County of London was created...
to trial their rifle designs by the Board of Ordnance
Board of Ordnance
The Board of Ordnance was a British government body responsible for the supply of armaments and munitions to the Royal Navy and British Army. It was also responsible for providing artillery trains for armies and maintaining coastal fortresses and, later, management of the artillery and engineer...
, who were responsible for the procurement of weaponry for the army. Bakers design was chosen and he was given an initial order for 800 rifles. In the same year, an "Experimental Corps of Riflemen", was raised by Colonel Coote Manningham
Coote Manningham
Coote Manningham was a British army officer who played a significant role in the creation and early development of the 95th Rifles.He was the second son of Charles Manningham of Surrey....
and Lieutenant-Colonel the Hon. William Stewart (1774–1827). The corps was manned by volunteer officers and soldiers from a variety of British regiments and militias, and would soon be renamed and normalised into the army under the name the 95th Rifles Regiment of Foot.
By 1810, four British battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
s, two each of the 95th and 60th
King's Royal Rifle Corps
The King's Royal Rifle Corps was a British Army infantry regiment, originally raised in colonial North America as the Royal Americans, and recruited from American colonists. Later ranked as the 60th Regiment of Foot, the regiment served for more than 200 years throughout the British Empire...
Regiments, and several companies of the King's German Legion
King's German Legion
The King's German Legion was a British Army unit of expatriate German personnel, 1803–16. The Legion achieved the distinction of being the only German force to fight without interruption against the French during the Napoleonic Wars....
were equipped with the Baker rifle.
The rifle was renowned for its accuracy and range. It was used throughout the Napoleonic Wars
Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars declared against Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly due to...
and continued in service until the 1830s.
Baker later wrote a book on his experiences making and using rifles.