Hilary Baker

Hilary Baker (February 21, 1746 – September 25, 1798) was an American abolitionist and politician who served as the mayor of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from 1796 to 1798. He helped found the Pennsylvania Abolition Society and created Philadelphia's first paid and uniformed police force. He was the first Philadelphia policeman to die in the line of duty.[1]

Hilary Baker
49th Mayor of Philadelphia
In office
October 18, 1796 – September 25, 1798
Preceded byMatthew Clarkson
Succeeded byRobert Wharton
Personal details
BornFebruary 21, 1746
DiedSeptember 25, 1798(1798-09-25) (aged 52)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Resting placeLaurel Hill Cemetery

Biography

He began his career as a hardware merchant. He served in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War.[2] In 1779, he was clerk of the Court of Quarter Sessions in Philadelphia, and a member of the Pennsylvania Constitutional Convention of 1789 and 1790.[3] Baker was elected alderman from 1789 to 1796, and elected mayor in 1796. He was re-elected in 1797.[4]

He was a staunch abolitionist and helped organize the Pennsylvania Abolition Society.[3]

During the 1798 yellow fever outbreak in Philadelphia, Baker remained in the city while other wealthy and influential citizens fled to the countryside for their safety.[1] He established Philadelphia's first paid, uniformed police force of 20 watchmen to protect the city from vandalism and looting.[2] He contracted yellow fever and died on September 25, 1798. He was originally interred at Zion Church at Eighth and Race Streets[2] but was re-interred in Laurel Hill Cemetery.[5]

Baker was the maternal grandfather of abolitionist and Union Army spy Elizabeth Van Lew.[3]

References
  1. Steele, Allison (6 July 2010). "Philly's first to die in line of duty - in 1798". www.inquirer.com. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  2. "Superintendent Hilary Baker". www.odmp.org. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  3. Casstevens, Frances H. (Oct 31, 2006). Tales from the North and the South: Twenty-Four Remarkable People and Events of the Civil War. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-2870-0. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  4. Jenkins, Howard Malcolm (1895). Memorial History of the City of Philadelphia. New York: New-York History Company. p. 408. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  5. "Hilary Baker". Laurel Hill Cemetery. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
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