J. Thompson Baker Explained

Jacob Thompson Baker
State:New Jersey
District:2nd
Party:Democrat
Term:March 4, 1913  - March 3, 1915
Preceded:John J. Gardner
Succeeded:Isaac Bacharach
Order2:1st
Office2:Mayor of Wildwood, New Jersey
Term Start2:1911
Term End2:1912
Predecessor2:Latimer R. Baker (As mayor of Wildwood Borough)
Successor2:Frank E. Smith
Birth Date:13 April 1847
Birth Place:Cowan, Pennsylvania
Death Place:Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Profession:Attorney
Real estate developer
Children:Katharine Baker

Jacob Thompson Baker (April 13, 1847 – December 7, 1919) was an American Democratic Party politician from New Jersey who represented New Jersey's 2nd congressional district for one term from 1913 to 1915.

Early life and education

Baker was born near Cowan, Pennsylvania on April 13, 1847. He attended the public schools and Bucknell University. He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1870 and commenced practice in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania.

Political career

He was chairman of the Democratic State convention in 1905. Baker moved to New Jersey and was one of the founders of Wildwood and the borough of Wildwood Crest. He was the first Mayor of Wildwood, New Jersey in 1911 and 1912, and was a delegate to the 1912 Democratic National Convention.

Congress

Baker was elected as a Democrat to the Sixty-third Congress, serving in office from March 4, 1913 to March 3, 1915, but was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1914 to the Sixty-fourth Congress.

After leaving Congress, he resumed real estate activities in Wildwood.

Death and legacy

Baker died in Philadelphia on December 7, 1919, and was interred in Cold Spring Presbyterian Cemetery in Cold Spring, New Jersey.

Baker's home, the J. Thompson Baker House was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966.

External links