Charles D. Baker (attorney)

Charles D. Baker
Member of the New York State Assembly from the 2nd Steuben district
In office January 6, 1885 – May 26, 1887
Preceded by	Andrew B. Craig
Succeeded by	Milo M. Acker
Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York
In office c. 1889–1908
Personal details
Born	September 17, 1846 Painted Post, New York, United States
Died	April 23, 1934 New York City, New York, United States
Nationality	American
Political party	Republican
Occupation	Attorney

Charles Duane Baker (September 17, 1846 – April 23, 1934) was an Assistant United States Attorney and a member of the New York State Assembly (1885–1887). He was the grandfather and great-grandfather of Massachusetts politicians Charles D. Baker (born 1928) and Charles D. Baker, Jr. (born 1956), respectively.

Biography

Baker was born September 17, 1846 in the village of Painted Post in Steuben County, New York. His mother, Elizabeth (Fleming) Baker, was the daughter of John Fleming, an early Painted Post settler. His father, Harrison H. Baker, was a millwright who became a lumber manufacturer later in his life. Growing up, Baker attended local public schools. He spent two years at Overland College before attending Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. He graduated from Cornell with a Bachelor of Arts in 1874. He was admitted to the bar in 1876.^[1]

He was elected to the New York State Assembly in 1884, where he served three terms representing the Second Steuben district. Around 1889 he was appointed Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York.^[1] He resigned in 1895^[2] to return to private law, but was again appointed to the office several years later and served until 1908. In 1910 he was appointed by United States Attorney General George Woodward Wickersham to be special counsel and attorney for the newly organized New York City Department of Justice.^[1]

In January 1883 he married Letitia Beattie Rock. They had three children, Charles Duane, Jr., David Dudley Field, and Caroline Beattie.^[1] Charles Jr. (c. 1890–1971) had another son named Charles D. Baker (born 1928), who served as a U.S. government official under Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon administrations. His son, Charles D. Baker, Jr. (born 1956) was a Massachusetts government official.^[3][4]

Baker died April 23, 1934 at St. Luke's Hospital in New York City. He was buried in Painted Post.^[5]

References

• Near, Irvin W. (1911). A History of Steuben County, New York, and Its People. pp. 578–580. The Lewis Publishing Company (Chicago).
• Murlin, Edgar L. (1897). The New York Red Book. pp. 504–506. James B. Lyon (Albany).

Footnotes

1. ^ ^{a b c d} Near 1911.
2. ^ "Washington." New York Herald: p. 8. March 13, 1895.
3. ^ "Charles B. Baker, Jr." October 9, 1971. The New York Times. p. 34
4. ^ "Estates Appraised." The New York Times: p. 38. October 31, 1934.
5. ^ "Obituary." The New York Times: p. 23. April 24, 1934.

Persondata
Name	Baker, Charles Duane
Alternative names
Short description	American attorney and New York state representative
Date of birth	September 17, 1846
Place of birth	Painted Post, New York, United States
Date of death	April 23, 1934
Place of death	New York City, New York, United States