Thomas Baker (dramatist) facts for kids

Thomas Baker (born around 1680, died in 1749) was an English writer who created plays, also known as a dramatist, and he was also a lawyer.

About Thomas Baker's Life

Thomas Baker is believed to have been the son of a well-known lawyer in London. He likely studied at Oxford University. A book called List of Dramatic Authors by John Mottley described Baker. This book said that Baker moved to Worcestershire, where he worked as a school teacher and a vicar (a type of priest) until he passed away in 1749.

Another writer, David Erskine Baker, who shared the same last name, wrote about Thomas Baker in his book Biographia Dramatica. He defended Thomas Baker's character. David Erskine Baker mentioned that a character named Maiden in Thomas Baker's play Tunbridge Walks was actually based on Thomas Baker himself. This character became very popular and inspired other similar characters in plays that came later.

Thomas Baker's Plays

Thomas Baker wrote several plays, and all of them were comedies. Here are some of his most famous works:

• The Humour of the Age (1701): This play was performed at the Drury Lane theatre in the same year it was written. Famous actors like Robert Wilks, Susanna Verbruggen, and Anne Oldfield played the main roles.
• Tunbridge Walks (1703): This play first opened on January 27, 1703, at Drury Lane. It was so popular that it was performed again at the same theatre in 1738 and 1764. It was also shown at the Covent Garden theatre in 1748. A shorter version of the play, called Tunbridge Wells, was even performed in 1782.
• An Act at Oxford (1704): This play included a scene set in a theatre at Oxford, showing doctors, students, and ladies. However, its performance was stopped, possibly because of influence from the university. It was later changed and performed under a new name, Hampstead Heath, at Drury Lane on October 30, 1705. This new version was printed in 1706.
• The Fine Lady's Airs (1709): This play was first performed at Drury Lane on December 14, 1708, and was brought back to the stage on April 20, 1747.

Another playwright, Thomas Durfey, mentioned Baker's plays in the introduction to his own comedy, Modern Prophets. Durfey criticized Tunbridge Walks for not having a strong plot. He also said that Baker had "brought Oxford upon Hampstead Heath" (referring to the changed play) and that The Fine Lady's Airs was "deservedly hist" (meaning it was booed). While Baker's plays might not have had very complex plots, they were generally well-written and fit in with the style of comedies popular during that time.

Thomas Baker is also thought to have written Female Tatler (1709), which was a newspaper-like publication. After 1709, there is no more information about Thomas Baker in historical records.