Allen Baker

File:1898 J. Allen Baker MP.jpg

Joseph Allen Baker (10 April 1852 – 3 July 1918){{Cite web |url=http://www.leighrayment.com/commons/Fcommons.htm |title=Archived copy |access-date=24 August 2009 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120211100955/http://www.leighrayment.com/commons/Fcommons.htm |archive-date=11 February 2012 }} 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 Trenton, Ontario the son of Joseph Baker,The Times, 4 July 1918 p3 an engineer. The Baker family were Quakers by religion. Baker was educated at Trenton High School.Who was Who, OUP 2007 In 1878 he married Elizabeth Moscrip of Morebattle, Kelso, Roxburghshire. They had three sons and four daughters, including the politician Philip Noel-Baker.Who was Who, OUP 2007

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.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bphs.net/GroupFacilities/J/JosephBakerAndSons/index.htm#13|title=Joseph Baker and Sons}} The company had interests in Britain, Canada, Australia and the USA.The Times House of Commons 1910; Politico’s Publishing, 2004 p23

Baker was prominently connected with the tramways in London and the extension of the tramway system in the London County Council area. He published special reports on tramway traction and recommended the conduit system for London.Who was Who, OUP 2007 Baker and Sons also had connections to the motor car industry and in around 1902, the company held an agency for the American car manufacturers Stevens-Duryea. They later designed and built their own lorry for deliveries to the London docks.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bphs.net/GroupFacilities/J/JosephBakerAndSons/index.htm#13|title=Joseph Baker and Sons}} Baker & Sons merged with Perkins Engineers Ltd in 1919 to form Baker Perkins Ltd.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bphs.net/GroupFacilities/J/JosephBakerAndSons/index.htm|title=Joseph Baker and Sons}}

Politics

Image:FinsburyEast1885.png

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.Who was Who, OUP 2007

At the general election of 1900 Baker contested the East Finsbury constituency for the Liberal Party but could not unseat the sitting Unionist MP, Henry Charles Richards.

{{Election box begin |

|title=General election 1900: Finsbury, East

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Henry Charles Richards

|votes = 2,174

|percentage = 54.3

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = Joseph Allen Baker

|votes = 1,827

|percentage = 45.7

|change =

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 347

|percentage = 8.6

|change =

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 5,678

|percentage = 70.5

|change =

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing = +1.1

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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 votesThe Times, 30 June 1905 p12

{{Election box begin |

|title=1905 Finsbury East by-election: 29 June 1905

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{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = Joseph Allen Baker

|votes = 2,320

|percentage = 59.9

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = N.L. Cohen

|votes = 1,552

|percentage = 40.1

|change =

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 768

|percentage = 19.8

|change =

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 5,302

|percentage = 73.0

|change =

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{{Election box gain with party link|

|winner = Liberal Party (UK)

|loser = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing = +14.2

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He held his seat at each subsequent general election until his death.

{{Election box begin |

|title=General election 1906: Finsbury, East

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{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = Joseph Allen Baker

|votes = 2,461

|percentage = 58.1

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Alfred Welby

|votes = 1,772

|percentage = 41.9

|change =

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 689

|percentage = 16.2

|change =

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 5,326

|percentage = 79.5

|change =

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Liberal Party (UK)

|swing = -1.8

}}

{{Election box begin |

|title=General election January 1910: Finsbury, East

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = Joseph Allen Baker

|votes = 2,102

|percentage = 51.0

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = William Mason

|votes = 2,016

|percentage = 49.0

|change =

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{{Election box majority|

|votes = 86

|percentage = 2.0

|change =

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes =

|percentage =

|change =

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Liberal Party (UK)

|swing = -7.1

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{{Election box begin |

|title=General election December 1910: Finsbury, East

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = Joseph Allen Baker

|votes = 2,023

|percentage = 51.6

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = William Mason

|votes = 1,900

|percentage = 48.4

|change =

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 123

|percentage = 3.2

|change =

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{{Election box turnout|

|votes =

|percentage =

|change =

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{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Liberal Party (UK)

|swing = +0.6

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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.Who was Who, OUP 2007 He was also sometime President of the London Adult Schools' Union and was a strong supporter of temperance.The Times, 4 July 1918 p3

Death

Baker died in Westminster Hospital in the early hours of 3 July 1918,

aged 66, following a seizure in the House of Commons two days before.The Times, 4 July 1918 p3 He was succeeded as Chairman of Baker and Sons by his eldest son, Allan R. Baker.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bphs.net/GroupFacilities/J/JosephBakerAndSons/index.htm#13|title=Joseph Baker and Sons}} His death caused a by-election in East Finsbury which was won for the Liberal Party by H.E.A.Cotton, who, like Baker was a former Progressive member of the LCC although he stood for election as a Government candidate.The Times, 17 July 1918 p6