William C. Baker

William Cotter Baker
Engraving
20th Mayor of Providence, Rhode Island
In office
January 3, 1898[1] – January 1901
Preceded byEdwin D. McGuinness
Succeeded byDaniel L.D. Granger
Personal details
Born(1858-03-15)March 15, 1858
Wickford, Rhode Island, US
Died1931
Political partyDemocrat[2]
SpouseSophia Metcalf
Alma materBrown University
OccupationAttorney[2]

William Cotter Baker (March 15, 1858 – 1931) was a lawyer and 20th mayor of Providence, Rhode Island.

Early life

William Baker was born March 15, 1858, in Wickford, Rhode Island, to David S. Baker and Mary C. Baker.[3] He attended public schools, then East Greenwich Academy.[2] He received his A.B. (Bachelor's degree) from Brown University in 1881.[4][3][2]

For two years he taught languages at Deveaux College in what was then the town of Suspension Bridge (now part of Niagara Falls, New York).[3] He was an Instructor of French and German.[4]

In 1884 he received his A.M. (Master's degree) from Brown University.[4] In that same year he was admitted to the Rhode Island Bar and practiced law in Providence.[4] From 1884 to 1888, he was superintendent of public schools of North Kingstown.[3]

On 24 May 1888 he married Sophia Metcalf, daughter of Jesse Metcalf of Providence.[3]

By 1914, Baker was living in Pasadena, California.[5] While there, Baker published, together with his wife, a 60-page book of poems called "The Town where I was Born: Stories of Old Wickford."[6]

Baker died in 1931.[7]

Political life

Baker was a member of Rhode Island state House of Representatives, 1892–94, 1897-98.[5] He was elected to three terms as mayor of the City of Providence from 1898 to 1901. He ran as a Democrat on a good government reform platform, characterized by the Providence Journal as being "in opposition to the corporations."[8] The Journal also characterized Baker's low turnout elections as "boring".[9]

References

  1. ^ "The Providence Daily Journal". The Providence Journal. 4 January 1898. p. 3.
  2. ^ a b c d Illustrated History of the Rhode Island Central Trades and Labor and Affiliated Unions. Rhode Island Central Trades and Labor Unions of Providence and Vicinity. 1899. p. 60. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
  3. ^ a b c d e Bayles, Richard Mather (1891). History of Providence County, Rhode Island, Volume 1. W.W. Preston. p. 69. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
  4. ^ a b c d Marquis, Albert Nelson (1915). Who's Who in New England. New England: A.N. Marquis & Company. p. 65. William Cotter Baker providence mayor biography.
  5. ^ a b Historical Catalogue of Brown University, 1764-1914. Providence, Rhode Island: Brown University. 1914. p. 267. Retrieved 4 June 2015. william cotter baker Pasadena.
  6. ^ The town where I was born; stories of old Wickford. Pasadena, California. 1915.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  7. ^ "Mayors of the City of Providence". City of Providence. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
  8. ^ "The Providence Daily Journal". The Providence Journal. 3 November 1897. p. 1.
  9. ^ "The Providence Daily Journal". The Providence Journal. 8 November 1899. p. 1.
Political offices
Preceded by Mayor of Providence
1898-1901 		Succeeded by