William C. Baker

William Cotter Baker (March 15, 1858 – 1931) was a lawyer and 20th mayor of Providence, Rhode Island.

William Cotter Baker
Engraving
20th Mayor of Providence, Rhode Island
In office
January 3, 1898[1] – January 1901
Preceded byEdwin D. McGuinness
Succeeded byDaniel L.D. Granger
Personal details
Born(1858-03-15)March 15, 1858
Wickford, Rhode Island
Died1931
Political partyDemocrat[2]
Spouse(s)Sophia Metcalf
Alma materBrown University
OccupationAttorney[2]

Early life

William Baker was born March 15, 1858 in Wickford, Rhode Island, to David S. Baker and Mary C. Baker.[3] He attended public schools, then East Greenwich Academy.[2] He received his A.B. (Bachelor's degree) from Brown University in 1881.[4][3][2]

For two years he taught languages at Deveaux College in what was then the town of Suspension Bridge (now part of Niagara Falls, New York).[3] He was an Instructor of French and German.[4]

In 1884 he received his A.M. (Master's degree) from Brown University.[4] In that same year he was admitted to the Rhode Island Bar and practiced law in Providence.[4] From 1884 to 1888, he was superintendent of public schools of North Kingstown.[3]

On 24 May 1888 he married Sophia Metcalf, daughter of Jesse Metcalf of Providence.[3]

By 1914, Baker was living in Pasadena, California.[5] While there, Baker published, together with his wife, a 60-page book of poems called "The Town where I was Born: Stories of Old Wickford."[6]

Baker died in 1931.[7]

Political life

Baker was a member of Rhode Island state House of Representatives, 1892-94, 1897-98.[5] He was elected to three terms as mayor of the City of Providence from 1898 to 1901. He ran as a Democrat on a good government reform platform, characterized by the Providence Journal as being "in opposition to the corporations."[8] The Journal also characterized Baker's low turnout elections as "boring".[9]

References
  1. "The Providence Daily Journal". The Providence Journal. 4 January 1898. p. 3.
  2. Illustrated History of the Rhode Island Central Trades and Labor and Affiliated Unions. Rhode Island Central Trades and Labor Unions of Providence and Vicinity. 1899. p. 60. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
  3. Bayles, Richard Mather (1891). History of Providence County, Rhode Island, Volume 1. W.W. Preston. p. 69. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
  4. Marquis, Albert Nelson (1915). Who's Who in New England. New England: A.N. Marquis & Company. p. 65. William Cotter Baker providence mayor biography.
  5. Historical Catalogue of Brown University, 1764-1914. Providence, Rhode Island: Brown University. 1914. p. 267. Retrieved 4 June 2015. william cotter baker Pasadena.
  6. The town where I was born; stories of old Wickford. Pasadena, California. 1915.
  7. "Mayors of the City of Providence". City of Providence. City of Providence. Archived from the original on 2 June 2015. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
  8. "The Providence Daily Journal". The Providence Journal. 3 November 1897. p. 1.
  9. "The Providence Daily Journal". The Providence Journal. 8 November 1899. p. 1.
Political offices
Preceded by
Edwin D. McGuinness		 Mayor of Providence
1898-1901		 Succeeded by
Daniel L.D. Granger
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