John Baker (English statesman)

Sir John Baker (1488–1558) was an English politician, and served as a Chancellor of the Exchequer, having previously been Speaker of the English House of Commons.

Biography

"Sir John Baker, knt of Sisinghurst, adopting the legal profession, attained considerable eminence, and, when a young man was sent ambassador to Denmark.

On his return he became Speaker of the House of Commons, and was soon after appointed attorney general and sworn of the privy council, but gained no further preferment until 1545, when, having recommended himself to the king by his activity in forwarding a loan in London and other imposts, he was made Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Henry VIII. constituted him an assistant trustee for the minor successor, after whose accession his name is scarcely mentioned in history, except in one instance, which ought not to be forgotten : he was the only privy counsellor who steadfastly denied his assent to the last will of that prince, by which Mary and Elizabeth where excluded from inheriting the crown.

He was successively recorder of London, attorney and chancellor of the Exchequer. He was likewise a privy counsellor to Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary and Elizabeth. Sir Richard m. Elizabeth, daughter and heir of Thomas Dineley, and widow of George Barret, by whom he had issue" [Burke's extincted baronetcies 1844 p32]

He kept a country estate at Sissinghurst Castle, Kent and was the grandfather of Sir Richard Baker, the sixteenth-century historian.

NB The information in this entry is highly unreliable in many details. For example, this John Baker was not the same man as the John Baker who was the ambassador to Denmark. A great dealof information about him is to be found in Foxe's Book of Martyrs and other sources.

References