John Baker
BIRTH 1769
Frederick County, Maryland, USA
DEATH 18 Aug 1823 (aged 53–54)
Shepherdstown, Jefferson County, West Virginia, USA
BURIAL
Old Episcopal Graveyard
Shepherdstown, Jefferson County, West Virginia, USA
US Congressman. He was born one of three children in Frederick, Maryland, (then the Province of Maryland, British America), in about 1769 (exact date of birth is currently unknown), to John Howard Baker and his wife Judith Howard Wood Baker. He was educated locally and later attended the prestigious Washington College (now Washington and Lee University), in Lexington, Virginia, for three years. He then studied law and was admitted to the bar shortly thereafter. He opened up his practice of law in Berkeley County, Virginia, (now Jefferson County, West Virginia), and then entered politics. He was elected alongside lawyer and United States Representative Magnus Tate and served a term as a Member of the Virginia State House of Delegates from Berkeley County, Virginia, (now Jefferson County, West Virginia), from 1798 to 1799. He was also one of the lawyers who represented former Vice President of the United States Aaron Burr when he was arrested in Alabama on February 19, 1807, and later tried for treason in the United States Circuit Court in Richmond, Virginia. He then decided to run for a seat in the United States Congress and was elected with 56.44% of the vote, defeating Democratic-Republican Daniel Morgan. A Member of the Federalist Party, he then served Virginia's 2nd District (Twelfth Congress), in the United States House of Representatives from March 4, 1811, to March 3, 1813. After his term in the United States Congress expired he was succeeded in office by United States Representative Francis White on March 4, 1813. After leaving the United States Congress he resumed his practice of law in Berkeley County, Virginia, (now Jefferson County, West Virginia). He lastly served as a Commonwealth Attorney for Berkeley County, Virginia, (now Jefferson County, West Virginia), before once again resuming his practice of law until his death. He passed away in Shepherdstown, Virginia, (now Shepherdstown, West Virginia), on August 18, 1823, at the age of about 54, and was buried in the Old Episcopal Church Cemetery in Shepherdstown, Virginia, (now Shepherdstown, West Virginia). He was married to Ann Mark Baker with whom he had one child. His wife Ann passed away in Shepherdstown, Virginia, (now Shepherdstown, West Virginia), in 1813, at the age of 45, but her resting place is currently unknown.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7618692/john-baker
