DICTIONARY
OF
NATIONAL BIOGRAPHY
BAKER, ALEXANDER (1582–1638), jesuit, was born in Norfolk in 1582, entered the Society of Jesus about 1610, was professed of the four vows in 1627, twice visited India as a missionary, and died on 24 Aug. 1638 in London, where he had resided for many years. He reconciled the Rev. William Coke, a son of Sir Edward Coke, the famous lawyer, to the catholic church in 1615. Among the 'State Papers' (Domestic, James I, vol. clxxxix. No.25, under date 1625) is a manuscript by Father Baker in defence of the doctrine of regeneration by baptism as held by catholics, showing its difference from the opinion of protestants.
[Oliver's Jesuits, 48; Dodd's Church Hist. iii. 155; Foley's Records, i. 153, vii. 28; Rymer's Fœdera, xviii. 392; Cal. State Papers, Dom. James I (1623-25), 520.]
BAKER, ANNE ELIZABETH (1786–1861), philologist, was born 16 June 1786. She was the sister of George Baker, the historian of Northamptonshire [q. v.], and to her his great work owes its geology and botany. Miss Baker was the companion of her brother's journeys, his amanuensis, and his fellow-labourer, especially in the natural history, and she made drawings and even engraved some of the plates for his great work. To the opportunities afforded her when she rode through the county by her brother's side we are indebted for the ‘Glossary of Northamptonshire Words and Phrases, to which are added the customs of the county,’ 2 vols., London, 1854, 8 vo, one of the best of our local lexicons. Miss Baker died at her house in Gold Street, Northampton 22 April 1861.
[Quarterly Review, ci. 6; Gent. Mag. ccxi. 208; Addit. MSS. 24864, f. 74.]
BAKER, ANSELM (1834–1885), artist, first acquired a knowledge of drawing and painting at Messrs. Hardman's studios in Birmingham. He became a Cistercian monk at Mount St. Bernard's Abbey, Leicestershire, in 1857, and died there on 11 Feb. 1885. As a heraldic artist he was unequalled in this country, and his work was eagerly sought for by those who appreciated the beauty of mediæval blazonry. About two-thirds of the coats-of-arms in Foster's 'Peerage' were drawn by him, and are signed 'F.A.' (Frater Anselm). He also executed the mural paintings in the chapel of St. Scholastica's Priory, Atherstone; in St. Winifred's, Sheepshed; in the Temple in Garendon Park, and in the Lady and Infirmary chapels at Mount St. Bernard's Abbey. The 'Hortus Animæ' and 'Horæ Diurnæ,' published at London, and several beautiful works brought out at Mechlin and Tournai, bear witness to his inventive genius. His 'Liber Vitæ', a record of the benefactors of St. Bernard's Abbey, is magnificently illustrated with pictures of the arms and patron saints of the benefactors. He also left unpublished 'The Armorial Bearings of English Cardinals' and The Arms of the Cistercian Houses of England.'
[Tablet, 21 Feb. 1885; Athenæum, 21 Feb. 1885; Academy, 21 Feb. 1885.]
BAKER, AUGUSTINE (1575–1641), Benedictine. [See Baker, David.]
BAKER, CHARLES (1617–1679), jesuit, whose real name was David Lewis, was the son of Morgan Lewis, master of the royal grammar school, Abergavenny. He was born in Monmouthshire in 1617, and studied in his father's, school. When about nineteen years old he was converted to the catholic faith, and sent by his uncle, a priest of the Society of Jesus, to the English college at Rome (1638). He was ordained priest in 1642, entered the
