Conrad Baker

Conrad Baker (born February 12, 1817 in Franklin County , Pennsylvania , † April 28, 1885 in Evansville , Indiana ) was an American politician and from 1867 to 1873 the 15th governor of the state of Indiana.

Early years

Baker attended Pennsylvania College in Gettysburg and then studied law. After his admission to the bar in 1839, he practiced in Gettysburg in his profession. In 1841 he moved to Evansville, Indiana, where he also worked as a lawyer. In 1845 he was elected to the Indiana House of Representatives for one term . In 1852 he became district judge for a short time; in 1856 he ran unsuccessfully for Lieutenant Governor of Indiana. During the Civil War he was colonel in a cavalry regiment made up of volunteers from Indiana. He remained in the army until his honorable farewell in September 1864. Then he returned to his private interests and politics. In 1864 he was elected Lieutenant Governor of Indiana.

Indiana Governor

When the incumbent governor Oliver P. Morton was temporarily incapacitated for health reasons in 1865, Baker took over the governor's affairs for five months until Morton's return. After Morton had finally resigned the post of governor on January 24, 1867 to move to the US Senate , Baker fell to his previous office. His first task was to end the beginning of his predecessor's term of office. In 1868 he was confirmed by the electorate in this office, where he prevailed with a narrow margin of around 800 votes against his future successor Thomas A. Hendricks . So he could officiate until January 13, 1873. A women's prison was planned during his tenure. Construction of a home for war veterans has also begun. In Terre Haute a state school was established and a juvenile detention center was built.

After the end of his tenure, Baker withdrew into private life. However, he continued to work as a lawyer. Baker died in April 1885 and was buried in Evansville. He was married twice and had a total of six children.

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personal data
SURNAME	Baker, Conrad
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	American politician
DATE OF BIRTH	February 12, 1817
PLACE OF BIRTH	Franklin County , Pennsylvania
DATE OF DEATH	April 28, 1885
Place of death	Evansville , Indiana