RICHARD H. BAKER

This venerable and distinguished

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1850, he married Anna M. May, a
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arlies of Virginia.

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He was the son of Richard Henry B.Fest lawyers of Tidewater Virginia, and Court comprising the Tidewater Counties to century, and up to within a short time of ancestors had long been fazans in Vir. Lael ancestors having been, during thr II, a member of the Virginia Conred of Stat Mr. Baker's early education wa Aademy, of the Board of Trustees at the time of his death. Later 1. High School near Alexandria, and ab udies there, graduated at the Univ egree of B. L. in 1850. From 1870 he Board of Visitors of that ingres istration of President Filmore he w Naval Courts at Norfolk.

Upon the secession of Virginia, in ec Into the military service of the State, to the Legislature of Virginia from the continuously re-elected, without ope the war, his services in the House 1. to permit him to withdraw from the

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RICHARD H. BAKER.

1

This venerable and distinguished member of the Virginia Bar was born in Nansemond County, Virginia, on the 18th day of December, 1826. At the time of his death, on February 1st, 1911, he was eighty-four years of age. On November 12th, 1850, he married Anna M. May, a daughter of David May, Esq., of Petersburg, Virginia, a member of one of the well known families of Virginia.

He was the son of Richard Henry Baker, himself one of the ablest lawyers of Tidewater Virginia, and a Judge of the Circuit Court comprising the Tidewater Counties for nearly a third of a century, and up to within a short time of his death in 1871. His ancestors had long been famous in Virginia history, one of his lineal ancestors having been, during the period of Charles II, a member of the Virginia Council of State.

Mr. Baker's early education was obtained at the Norfolk Academy, of the Board of Trustees of which he was President at the time of his death. Later he attended the Episcopal High School near Alexandria, and after the completion of his studies there, graduated at the University of Virginia with the degree of B. L. in 1850. From 1870 to 1875 he was a member of the Board of Visitors of that institution. During the administration of President Filmore he was Judge Advocate of the Naval Courts at Norfolk.

Upon the secession of Virginia, in 1861, he went immediately into the military service of the State, but was soon after elected to the Legislature of Virginia from the City of Norfolk, and was continuously re-elected, without opposition, until the close of the war, his services in the House being considered too valuable to permit him to withdraw from the office. Since the war he has been continuously practicing law in the City of Norfolk,

Virginia, being at one time the senior member of the firm of Baker & Walke, and later, and at his death, of the firm of R. H. Baker & Son.

He was a consistent Christian gentleman, always interested and prompt to aid in charitable work, and was for forty-three years continuously, and at his death, Senior Warden of the Vestry of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Norfolk, Virginia.

In the conduct of his professional business, and in his dealings with the members of the bar, his courteous and considerate, manner, alike to young and old, was so thoroughly understood and acknowledged that by universal consent he had become in the latter years of his life not only the Nestor, but the Chesterfield, of the Norfolk Bar. In the disputations and wranglings of trials he took but little part during the latter years of his life, but on those occasions on which he appeared in court his thorough mastery of the law and the facts made him a foeman to be dreaded. But in the preparation of chancery pleadings, and in the drawing of contracts and in the examination of titles he was especially skilled, which together with his intimate knowledge of people and conditions for three-quarters of a century in the neighborhood of Norfolk, made him an invaluable aid both to client and to his fellow members of the bar in the settlement of estates and matters relating thereto.

He was the best product of that type known throughout the country as the "old Virginia gentleman." His fine intellectual face, his courteous manner, his strength of will, and, with all, his gentleness and consideration of others' feelings, make his going hence a loss both to the bar and to the community. D. LAWRENCE GRONER.