Ezekiel Baker facts for kids
Ezekiel Baker (born 1758, died 1836) was a very skilled gunsmith from Whitechapel, London. He became famous for designing a special gun called the Baker rifle in the year 1800.
Ezekiel Baker learned his trade from another gunsmith named Henry Nock. In 1775, he opened his own gun shop in London. Later in his life, he even wrote a book about how he made and used rifles.
The Famous Baker Rifle
For a while, the British Army had been trying to find a good rifle. They had tested many designs since the American Revolutionary War. But most rifles they found were either too weak, too hard to carry, or too slow to shoot during a battle.
Designing a New Rifle
On February 4, 1800, the army's weapon department, called the Board of Ordnance, invited top gun makers to show off their rifle designs. They met in a place called Woolwich. Ezekiel Baker's design was chosen as the best!
The First Order
Because his rifle was so good, Baker received a first order for 800 rifles. In the same year, a new army group was formed. It was called the "Experimental Corps of Riflemen." This group was made up of soldiers who volunteered from different British regiments. Soon, this special group became known as the famous 95th Rifles Regiment.
Rifle Use and Impact
By 1810, many British soldiers were using the Baker rifle. This included five battalions (large groups of soldiers) from the 95th Rifles and the 60th Regiments. Some German soldiers fighting with the British also used it.
The Baker rifle was well-known for being very accurate and able to shoot far. It was used throughout the Napoleonic Wars, which were big wars in Europe. The rifle stayed in service until the 1830s, showing how important and effective it was for a long time.
