Allen Baker
Joseph Allen Baker (10 April 1852 – 3 July 1918)[1] was a British North America-born British engineer, specialising in machinery for the confectionery and bakery industries and later in transportation systems, who was also a Liberal Party politician in London.
Family and education
Joseph Allen Baker was born at Maple Ridge Farm in
Career
Baker followed his father's professional footsteps and entered the family engineering business. He left Canada for London in 1878 and established a firm, Baker & Sons, with his brothers, of which he became chairman in 1892 on the death of his father. In 1879 they set up business in Finsbury but the trade expanded and, in 1890 a move was made to a large, newly built engineering works in Hythe Road, Willesden, where it remained for the next 43 years. As Quakers, the Baker family tried to run a model business taking a paternal interest in the welfare of their workforce and introducing schemes such as shorter working days, encouraging employees to participate in health and insurance plans and fostering a relaxed approach on the shop floor, perhaps to the detriment of profits.[5] The company had interests in Britain, Canada, Australia and the USA.[6]
Baker was prominently connected with the tramways in London and the extension of the tramway system in the
Politics
Baker represented Finsbury East on the London County Council (LCC) as a Progressive from 1895 to 1906. During his time on the LCC he acted as Chairman of the Highways Committee.[10]
At the
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Henry Charles Richards | 2,174 | 54.3 | ||
Liberal | Joseph Allen Baker | 1,827 | 45.7 | ||
Majority | 347 | 8.6 | |||
Turnout | 5,678 | 70.5 | |||
Conservative hold | Swing | +1.1 |
Richards died in 1905 causing a by-election and Baker was selected to fight the division again. He won the by-election, which was held on 29 June 1905, with a majority of 768 votes[11]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | Joseph Allen Baker | 2,320 | 59.9 | ||
Conservative | N.L. Cohen | 1,552 | 40.1 | ||
Majority | 768 | 19.8 | |||
Turnout | 5,302 | 73.0 | |||
Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +14.2 |
He held his seat at each subsequent general election until his death.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | Joseph Allen Baker | 2,461 | 58.1 | ||
Conservative | Alfred Welby | 1,772 | 41.9 | ||
Majority | 689 | 16.2 | |||
Turnout | 5,326 | 79.5 | |||
Liberal hold | Swing | -1.8 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | Joseph Allen Baker | 2,102 | 51.0 | ||
Conservative | William Mason | 2,016 | 49.0 | ||
Majority | 86 | 2.0 | |||
Turnout | |||||
Liberal hold | Swing | -7.1 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | Joseph Allen Baker | 2,023 | 51.6 | ||
Conservative | William Mason | 1,900 | 48.4 | ||
Majority | 123 | 3.2 | |||
Turnout | |||||
Liberal hold | Swing | +0.6 |
Peace and religious work
As a Quaker, Baker was committed to peace and religious harmony. He initiated and organised an interchange of visits between representatives of the Christian churches of Great Britain and Germany in the interests of international peace and closer friendship. He was Chairman of the Executive Committee of the British Council of the Associated Councils of Churches in the British and German Empires for Fostering Friendly Relations and Chairman of the Executive Committee of the British Group of the World Alliance of Churches for Promoting International Friendship.[12] He was also sometime President of the London Adult Schools' Union and was a strong supporter of temperance.[13]
Death
Baker died in Westminster Hospital in the early hours of 3 July 1918, aged 66, following a seizure in the
References
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 11 February 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2009.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ The Times, 4 July 1918 p3
- ^ Who was Who, OUP 2007
- ^ Who was Who, OUP 2007
- ^ "Joseph Baker and Sons".
- ^ The Times House of Commons 1910; Politico’s Publishing, 2004 p23
- ^ Who was Who, OUP 2007
- ^ "Joseph Baker and Sons".
- ^ "Joseph Baker and Sons".
- ^ Who was Who, OUP 2007
- ^ The Times, 30 June 1905 p12
- ^ Who was Who, OUP 2007
- ^ The Times, 4 July 1918 p3
- ^ The Times, 4 July 1918 p3
- ^ "Joseph Baker and Sons".
- ^ The Times, 17 July 1918 p6