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Richard Baker (Australian politician)
Encyclopedia
Sir Richard Chaffey Baker KCMG
(22 June 1842 – 18 March 1911) was an Australia
n politician. A barrister by trade, he embarked on a successful career in South Australia
n colonial politics, serving as state attorney-general and President of the Legislative Council
before switching to federal politics after federation. He served as the inaugural President of the Senate
from 1901 to 1906. A noted federalist, he was the son of one-time Premier of South Australia John Baker
.
Baker was born in Adelaide
, but returned to his family home of England
to study at Eton College
and Cambridge University. He graduated with a B.A. in 1864 and an M.A. in 1870. He was called to the bar in June 1864, and returned to Adelaide in the same year. Baker began developing a successful career as a barrister, but in 1868, at the age of 26, decided to stand for the state lower house of parliament, the House of Assembly
, in the seat of Barossa. The campaign was successful, as he topped the poll, and thus took one of the two Barossa seats in the House of Assembly.
Baker was appointed as Attorney-General in the third ministry of John Hart
in May 1870, but returned to the backbenches in July 1871 in order to manage the affairs of his ill father, and did not recontest his seat at the election late that year. Two years later, Baker visited England, and on his return in early 1875, he declined an offer to serve in the cabinet of Sir Arthur Blyth
. He nevertheless recontested his old seat of Barossa, but was defeated. Two years later, Baker chose to instead contest a seat in the Legislative Council
, and was successful. He held his seat until federation, serving a twelve-month stint as education minister in the Colton
ministry in 1884-1885, and serving as President of the Legislative Council from 1893 until 1901.
Baker took a strong interest in the proposed federation of the Australian colonies in the 1880s and 1890s, and prepared A Manual of Reference to Authorities for the Use of the Members of the Sydney Constitutional Convention, which was published early in 1891 and distributed at the convention of that year. It influenced to some extent the first draft of the Constitution of Australia
, which was drawn up as a result of the 1891 convention. Baker continued his involvement throughout the decade, and was elected as a representative of South Australia
at the 1897 convention, where he served as chairman of committees and as a member of the constitutional committee.
With the onset of federation in 1901, Baker left his post as President of the Legislative Council and chose instead to run for the Australian Senate
as a free trader
. He was successful in this move, and when parliament met, was elected as the first President of the Australian Senate
. He was re-elected in 1904, and retired from politics in 1906.
He married Miss K. E. Colley who predeceased him and was survived by two sons and a daughter. He was created a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George
(CMG) in 1886 and was knighted KCMG
in 1895.
Baker was an oarsman in his youth and maintained a keen interest in cricket
and horse racing
. He was for many years chairman of the jockey club at Morphettville
. He had large pastoral interests and was involved in the development of copper mining in the state.
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
(22 June 1842 – 18 March 1911) was an Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n politician. A barrister by trade, he embarked on a successful career in South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
n colonial politics, serving as state attorney-general and President of the Legislative Council
South Australian Legislative Council
The Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of South Australia. Its central purpose is to act as a house of review for legislation passed through the lower house, the House of Assembly...
before switching to federal politics after federation. He served as the inaugural President of the Senate
President of the Australian Senate
The President of the Australian Senate is the presiding officer of the Australian Senate, the upper house of the Parliament of Australia. The presiding officer of the lower house is the Speaker of the House of Representatives....
from 1901 to 1906. A noted federalist, he was the son of one-time Premier of South Australia John Baker
John Baker (Australian politician)
John Baker was an early South Australian pastoralist and politician. He was the second Premier of South Australia, succeeding Boyle 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 Torrens.-Early...
.
Baker was born in Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
, but returned to his family home of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
to study at Eton College
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 Cambridge University. He graduated with a B.A. in 1864 and an M.A. in 1870. He was called to the bar in June 1864, and returned to Adelaide in the same year. Baker began developing a successful career as a barrister, but in 1868, at the age of 26, decided to stand for the state lower house of parliament, the House of Assembly
South Australian House of Assembly
The House of Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of South Australia. The other is the Legislative Council. It sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Adelaide.- Overview :...
, in the seat of Barossa. The campaign was successful, as he topped the poll, and thus took one of the two Barossa seats in the House of Assembly.
Baker was appointed as Attorney-General in the third ministry of John Hart
John Hart, senior
Captain John Hart was a South Australian politician and a Premier of South Australia.-Early life:The son of journalist/newspaper publisher John Harriott Hart & Mary nee Glanville, John was born on 25 February 1809 probably at 23 Warwick Lane off Newgate Street, London. At Christ Church, Greyfriars...
in May 1870, but returned to the backbenches in July 1871 in order to manage the affairs of his ill father, and did not recontest his seat at the election late that year. Two years later, Baker visited England, and on his return in early 1875, he declined an offer to serve in the cabinet of Sir Arthur Blyth
Arthur Blyth
Sir Arthur Blyth KCMG was premier of South Australia three times; 1864–1865, 1871–1872 and 1873-1875....
. He nevertheless recontested his old seat of Barossa, but was defeated. Two years later, Baker chose to instead contest a seat in the Legislative Council
South Australian Legislative Council
The Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of South Australia. Its central purpose is to act as a house of review for legislation passed through the lower house, the House of Assembly...
, and was successful. He held his seat until federation, serving a twelve-month stint as education minister in the Colton
John Colton
Sir John Colton KCMG was an Australian politician, Premier of South Australia and philanthropist.Colton, the son of William Colton, a farmer, was born in Devonshire, England. He arrived in South Australia in 1839 with his parents, who went on the land...
ministry in 1884-1885, and serving as President of the Legislative Council from 1893 until 1901.
Baker took a strong interest in the proposed federation of the Australian colonies in the 1880s and 1890s, and prepared A Manual of Reference to Authorities for the Use of the Members of the Sydney Constitutional Convention, which was published early in 1891 and distributed at the convention of that year. It influenced to some extent the first draft of the Constitution of Australia
Constitution of Australia
The Constitution of Australia is the supreme law under which the Australian Commonwealth Government operates. It consists of several documents. The most important is the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Australia...
, which was drawn up as a result of the 1891 convention. Baker continued his involvement throughout the decade, and was elected as a representative of South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
at the 1897 convention, where he served as chairman of committees and as a member of the constitutional committee.
With the onset of federation in 1901, Baker left his post as President of the Legislative Council and chose instead to run for the Australian Senate
Australian Senate
The Senate is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of Australia, the lower house being the House of Representatives. Senators are popularly elected under a system of proportional representation. Senators are elected for a term that is usually six years; after a double dissolution, however,...
as a free trader
Free Trade Party
The Free Trade Party which was officially known as the Australian Free Trade and Liberal Association, also referred to as the Revenue Tariff Party in some states and renamed the Anti-Socialist Party in 1906, was an Australian political party, formally organised between 1889 and 1909...
. He was successful in this move, and when parliament met, was elected as the first President of the Australian Senate
President of the Australian Senate
The President of the Australian Senate is the presiding officer of the Australian Senate, the upper house of the Parliament of Australia. The presiding officer of the lower house is the Speaker of the House of Representatives....
. He was re-elected in 1904, and retired from politics in 1906.
He married Miss K. E. Colley who predeceased him and was survived by two sons and a daughter. He was created a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
(CMG) in 1886 and was knighted KCMG
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
in 1895.
Baker was an oarsman in his youth and maintained a keen interest in cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
and horse racing
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
. He was for many years chairman of the jockey club at Morphettville
Morphettville, South Australia
Morphettville is a suburb of Adelaide, South Australia in the City of Marion. It is the site of the Morphettville Racecourse and the tram barn for the Glenelg Tram. Both the suburb and the racecourse were named after Sir John Morphett....
. He had large pastoral interests and was involved in the development of copper mining in the state.