Joshua Baker facts for kids
Joshua Gabriel Baker (March 23, 1799 – April 16, 1885) was the 22nd Governor of Louisiana. He served during a challenging time in American history called Reconstruction, which was the period after the American Civil War.
Quick facts for kids
Joshua Baker
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| 22nd Governor of Louisiana | |
| In office January 8, 1868 – June 27, 1868 |
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| Lieutenant | Albert Voorhies |
| Preceded by | Benjamin Flanders |
| Succeeded by | Henry C. Warmoth |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 23, 1799 Mason County, Kentucky |
| Died | April 16, 1885 (aged 86) Lyme, Connecticut |
| Political party | Unionist |
| Spouses | (1) Fanny Assherton (2) Catherine Patton |
Early Life and Education
Joshua Baker was born on March 23, 1799, in Mason County, Kentucky. His parents were Joshua Baker and Susan Lewis. When he was about four years old, in 1803, his family moved to the Mississippi Territory. By 1811, they had settled at Oaklawn Plantation in St. Mary Parish, Louisiana.
Joshua attended the United States Military Academy in New York from 1817 to 1819. After his time there, he became a Second Lieutenant in the Army Artillery Corps. He even worked as an assistant professor at West Point for a short time. In October 1820, he left the Army. The next year, in 1821, he moved to Litchfield, Connecticut, to study law. He became a lawyer in Kentucky in 1822.
Career in Louisiana
After becoming a lawyer, Joshua Baker returned to Louisiana. He practiced law in Opelousas, Louisiana, for many years.
He also served in the Louisiana State Militia as a Colonel from 1826 to 1829. During this time, he worked on engineering projects in Plaquemines Parish. From 1829 to 1839, he was a Judge in St. Mary Parish.
Baker also held important roles in public works for Louisiana. He was an Assistant State Engineer from 1833 to 1838. Later, from 1840 to 1845, he was the Director of Public Works for the state. He also owned three large farms, called plantations, and invested in steamboats.
Civil War and Governorship
When the American Civil War began in 1861, Colonel Baker retired to Franklin, Louisiana. He was a Conservative Democrat and did not support the Southern states leaving the Union. Because of this, he chose to work with the Union Army when they occupied Louisiana.
On January 8, 1868, Joshua Baker took an oath to be loyal to the Union. He was appointed Military Governor of Louisiana by General Winfield Scott Hancock. This happened after the previous governor, Benjamin Flanders, resigned.
As Governor, Baker supported a plan for Reconstruction that was more forgiving to the Southern states. However, his time as governor was difficult. The military had a lot of power during Reconstruction, and they could often overrule his decisions. For example, when Governor Baker removed nine members of the New Orleans City Council, President Ulysses S. Grant reversed his order. Because of these challenges, Governor Baker resigned from his position. After his resignation, Henry C. Warmoth was elected as the new governor.
Family Life
In 1825, Joshua Baker married Fanny Assheton Stelle in Opelousas. They had three children together. Fanny passed away on August 17, 1831. One of their children was:
- Margaret Baker (1828–1893), who married John Peck Van Bergen.
In 1832, he married a second time to Catherine Patton from Fairfax, Virginia. They had two children.
Joshua Baker died in Lyme, Connecticut, on April 16, 1885. He was buried at Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York.
