Charles J. Baker
Charles Joseph Baker | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
| Died | September 23, 1894 (aged 73) Catonsville, Maryland, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Politician, businessman, banker |
| Known for | Acting Mayor of Baltimore (1861–1862), president of Franklin Bank, owner of Baker Bros. & Co. |
Charles Joseph Baker (May 28, 1821 – September 23, 1894) was a prominent American figure in politics, commerce, and banking. He held the position of acting Mayor of Baltimore for a period of 88 days amid the American Civil War, from October 1861 until January 1862. In addition to his political role, Baker oversaw his family's enterprise, Baker Bros. & Co., which specialized in glass, paints, and oils, and also served as president of Franklin Bank.
Early life
Baker was born at his father’s estate named "Friendsbury" located in Baltimore. He received his education locally before graduating from Dickinson College in 1841. While attending college, he became affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Career
Initially, Baker collaborated with his father in producing window glass, paints, and oils at their facility on South Charles Street in Baltimore. By 1865, he had assumed full ownership of Baker Bros. & Co. and brought his sons William and Charles E. Baker into the business to facilitate its expansion into New York City. By 1859, he was serving as a director of Franklin Bank and was appointed its president in 1867, a role he maintained for over two decades until the bank merged with Equitable National Bank.
A proponent of municipal reform during 1859-60, Baker was elected to the second branch of the Baltimore City Council representing the thirtieth ward in October 1860 and was chosen as its president. After Mayor George William Brown was arrested in September 1861, Baker assumed the duties of Mayor of Baltimore ex officio until John Lee Chapman took office in January 1862. His brief mayoral service spanned 88 days and was formally acknowledged only in 1989.
Throughout the Civil War period, Baker resisted the division within the Methodist church between North and South factions and founded several Independent Methodist congregations in Baltimore, including Chatsworth Church. He also held a controlling stake in the Baltimore Gazette, which he eventually sold.
In 1870, Baker was a director of the Canton Company responsible for developing East Baltimore’s port district. He played an instrumental role in extending the Union Railroad of Baltimore to reach Canton.
Personal life
On January 4, 1842, Baker married Elizabeth Bosserman from Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Together they had seven children: Bernard N. Baker—who later became president of the Baltimore Storage and Lighterage Company—along with William, Charles E., Mary H., Richard J., Frank M., and Ashby Lee. Following Elizabeth’s passing or separation, he married a second wife named Katie.
Baker lived at "Athol," a rural estate built in 1880 situated in Catonsville near Baltimore, and additionally owned another property known as "Tremont."
He passed away on September 23, 1894, at his "Athol" residence and was interred at Loudon Park Cemetery in Baltimore.
Legacy
Following Baker’s death, his estate "Athol" was sold and repurposed as a sanitarium. The city acquired it in 2006 for historic preservation purposes; however, it was destroyed by fire on September 27, 2021.