Nathaniel B. Baker

Nathaniel B. Baker

Nathaniel Bradley Baker (born September 29, 1818 in Henniker , Merrimack County , New Hampshire , † September 11, 1876 in Des Moines , Iowa ) was an American politician and governor of the state of New Hampshire from 1854 to 1855 .

Early years and political advancement

Nathaniel Baker attended Phillips Exeter Academy and then Harvard University until 1839 . After studying law and being admitted to the bar, he opened a law firm in Concord in 1842 . At the same time he was active as a journalist. He bought the New Hampshire Patriot newspaper, which he published himself.

In 1845 Baker became clerk at an appeals court, and a year later he held the same office in the Merrimack County High Court. Baker became a member of the Democratic Party . In 1850 he was elected to the New Hampshire House of Representatives. In 1851 he became the head of the Concord Fire Department . The following year he was one of the electors of his compatriot Franklin Pierce when he was elected US President . Finally, in 1854, he was elected the new governor of his state.

New Hampshire Governor

Baker took up his new office on June 8, 1854. In his only one year tenure, a few new banks were established in the state. His term of office was overshadowed by the federal political events of this time, which was characterized by the contrast between the northern and southern states. Opinions on the matter were divided in New Hampshire. Bills condemning both the Missouri Compromise and the Kansas-Nebraska Act failed to find a political majority in the state's legislature. However, a law that allowed women to draw up their own will was ratified. At that time, a few new industrial companies also sprang up in the state. In 1855, Baker ran unsuccessfully for re-election. Therefore he had to give up his office on June 7, 1855.

Another résumé

After his tenure ended, Baker moved to Iowa . There he was active both as a lawyer and a politician. In 1859 he was elected to the Iowa House of Representatives. Between 1861 and his death in 1876 he was the adjutant general of Iowa, which is roughly the equivalent of an executive officer or secretary of state. Nathaniel Baker was married to Lucretia M. Tenbroeck, with whom he had four children.

literature

• Robert Sobel and John Raimo (Eds.): Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789–1978. Volume 3, Meckler Books, Westport, 1978. 4 volumes.

Web links

• Nathaniel Baker in the National Governors Association (English)
• Biography of New Hampshire (English)
• Nathaniel B. Baker in the database of Find a Grave (English)