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

Providence Providence often refers to: * Providentia, the divine personification of foresight in ancient Roman religion * Divine providence, divinely ordained events and outcomes in Christianity * Providence, Rhode Island, the capital of Rhode Island in the ...

, Rhode Island.

Early life

William Baker was born March 15, 1858, in Wickford, Rhode Island, to David S. Baker and Mary C. Baker. He attended public schools, then

East Greenwich Academy The East Greenwich Academy (originally known as Kent Academy) was a private Methodist boarding school in East Greenwich, Rhode Island, USA that was in existence from 1802 until 1943. History The school was founded in 1802 by eight prominent men ...

. He received his A.B. ( Bachelor's degree) from

Brown University Brown University is a private research university in Providence, Rhode Island. Brown is the seventh-oldest institution of higher education in the United States, founded in 1764 as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providenc ...

in 1881. For two years he taught languages at

Deveaux College Deveaux School Historic District is a national historic district located at Niagara Falls in Niagara County, New York. Beginnings The property was deeded in the mid-1850s as “The DeVeaux College for Orphans and Destitute Children” by Judge ...

in what was then the town of Suspension Bridge (now part of

Niagara Falls, New York Niagara Falls is a City (New York), city in Niagara County, New York, United States. As of the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census, the city had a total population of 48,671. It is adjacent to the Niagara River, across from the city of Niagara ...

). He was an Instructor of French and German. In 1884 he received his A.M. ( Master's degree) from Brown University. In that same year he was admitted to the Rhode Island Bar and practiced law in

. From 1884 to 1888, he was superintendent of public schools of

North Kingstown North Kingstown is a town in Washington County, Rhode Island, United States, and is part of the Providence metropolitan area. The population was 27,732 in the 2020 census. North Kingstown is home to the birthplace of American portraitist Gilbe ...

. On 24 May 1888 he married Sophia Metcalf, daughter of Jesse Metcalf of Providence. By 1914, Baker was living in

Pasadena, California Pasadena ( ) is a city in Los Angeles County, California, northeast of downtown Los Angeles. It is the most populous city and the primary cultural center of the San Gabriel Valley. Old Pasadena is the city's original commercial district. I ...

. 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." Baker died in 1931.

Political life

Baker was a member of Rhode Island state House of Representatives, 1892–94, 1897-98. 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 Good government is a normative description of how government is supposed to be constituted. It has been frequently employed by various political thinkers, ideologues and politicians. Thomas Jefferson and good government Thomas Jefferson often r ...

reform platform, characterized by the Providence Journal as being "in opposition to the corporations." The Journal also characterized Baker's low turnout elections as "boring".

References

External links

* Baker's boo
The town where I was born; stories of old Wickford
{{DEFAULTSORT:Baker, William C. 1858 births 1931 deaths 20th-century mayors of places in Rhode Island Mayors of Providence, Rhode Island Brown University alumni Politicians from Pasadena, California Lawyers from Pasadena, California People from North Kingstown, Rhode Island Rhode Island lawyers 19th-century American lawyers Democratic Party members of the Rhode Island House of Representatives