George Baker, 1st Baronet
Encyclopedia
Sir George Baker, Bt, MD, FRS, FSA (1 January 1722 – 15 June 1809) was an English physician.
He was born in Modbury
, Devon
, the son of George Baker, vicar of Modbury, and his wife Bridget Harris. He was educated at Eton
and King's College, Cambridge
. In 1749 he went to Leyden University to study physic, becoming MD in 1756. He was admitted to the Royal College of Physicians
in 1756 and became a fellow in 1757.
He moved to Stamford, Lincolnshire to practice medicine but returned to London around 1761 to become very successful, being elected President of the Royal College of Physicians nine times between 1785 and 1795.
In a presentation to the Royal College of Physicians he postulated that "Devonshire colic", a painful and occasionally fatal condition, was caused by lead poisoning from drinking cider. When lead was removed from the cider manufacturing process the problem disappeared.
He was appointed physician to the Queen's household and then physician to King George III, attending the king during his periods of madness. He was created Baronet Baker of Loventor in Totnes, Devon on 26 August 1776.
He was a good classical scholar and fluent in Latin and Greek. He published a number of papers in Latin. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1762 and Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries
. He was also made an honorary fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
and a foreign fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine of Paris.
He was buried at St. James's church, Piccadilly, and on a plain mural tablet to the north of the Communion table records his death. He had married Jane Morris, daughter of Roger Morris and Elizabeth Jackson, on 28 June 1768 at St. James's, Westminster. They had two children, of whom Sir Frederick inherited the baronetcy.
He was born in Modbury
Modbury
Modbury is a town and parish in the South Hams region of the English county of Devon. It is situated on the A379 road, which links it to Plymouth and Kingsbridge...
, Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, the son of George Baker, vicar of Modbury, and his wife Bridget Harris. He was educated at Eton
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
and King's College, Cambridge
King's College, Cambridge
King's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. The college's full name is "The King's College of our Lady and Saint Nicholas in Cambridge", but it is usually referred to simply as "King's" within the University....
. In 1749 he went to Leyden University to study physic, becoming MD in 1756. He was admitted to the Royal College of Physicians
Royal College of Physicians
The Royal College of Physicians of London was founded in 1518 as the College of Physicians by royal charter of King Henry VIII in 1518 - the first medical institution in England to receive a royal charter...
in 1756 and became a fellow in 1757.
He moved to Stamford, Lincolnshire to practice medicine but returned to London around 1761 to become very successful, being elected President of the Royal College of Physicians nine times between 1785 and 1795.
In a presentation to the Royal College of Physicians he postulated that "Devonshire colic", a painful and occasionally fatal condition, was caused by lead poisoning from drinking cider. When lead was removed from the cider manufacturing process the problem disappeared.
He was appointed physician to the Queen's household and then physician to King George III, attending the king during his periods of madness. He was created Baronet Baker of Loventor in Totnes, Devon on 26 August 1776.
He was a good classical scholar and fluent in Latin and Greek. He published a number of papers in Latin. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1762 and Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries
Society of Antiquaries of London
The Society of Antiquaries of London is a learned society "charged by its Royal Charter of 1751 with 'the encouragement, advancement and furtherance of the study and knowledge of the antiquities and history of this and other countries'." It is based at Burlington House, Piccadilly, London , and is...
. He was also made an honorary fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
The Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh was established in the 17th century. While the RCPE is based in Edinburgh, it is by no means just a Scottish professional body - more than half of its 7,700 Fellows, Members, Associates and Affiliates live and practice medicine outside Scotland, in 86...
and a foreign fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine of Paris.
He was buried at St. James's church, Piccadilly, and on a plain mural tablet to the north of the Communion table records his death. He had married Jane Morris, daughter of Roger Morris and Elizabeth Jackson, on 28 June 1768 at St. James's, Westminster. They had two children, of whom Sir Frederick inherited the baronetcy.