Memorable Manitobans: George William Baker (1854-1917)

George William Baker Click to enlarge

Lawyer, judge.

George William Baker Click to enlarge

Born at Ottawa, Ontario on 14 August 1854, son of Godfrey Phipps Baker (1822-1882) and Elizabeth Julia Clements (1832-1858), he was educated at Ottawa Classical and Commercial School, Ontario College, Picton and Ottawa Grammar School. He was a barrister in Ontario; came to Winnipeg in 1881, and was called to the Manitoba Bar in 1882. He was a member of Winnipeg City Council (1888, 1897-1898) and a Winnipeg Police Magistrate (1901-1903). He was appointed a Kings Counsel in 1914. He was responsible for the introduction of the Judicature Act into Manitoba.

He was married three times: in 1884 to Jeannie Harward Eastman (1863-1895, sister-in-law of B. E. Chaffey), in 1906 to Annie Grime (c1878-1908) of Harrogate, England, and in 1912 to Ursilla Katherine Hay Bell (1880-1928). With them he had ten children: Edwin Godfrey Phipps Baker, Miriam Eastman Baker (1886-?), Basil Glyn Baker (1888-1936), Doris Harward Baker (1890-1981, wife of William McDonnell), Henry Ahern Higginson Baker, George Hamilton Baker (1893-1937), Ralph Dennistoun Baker, Paul William Grime Baker (1908-1929), Agnes Ursilla Bruce Baker (1915-1935), and George William Baker (1917-2003).

He was a member of the Diocesan and Provincial Synod of the Church of England, a member of the University Council, and served on the Board of Directors of the YMCA. he was a member of the Northern Light (Masonic) Lodge and was installed as the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Manitoba AF & AM in 1910. He was a member of the Manitoba Club and St. Charles Country Club.

Brother-in-law of H. A. Higginson.

He died at his summer home in Keewatin, Ontario on 1 September 1917 and was buried in the St. John’s Cathedral Cemetery. His diary (1881-1882) and papers are held at the Archives of Manitoba.

See also:

The Justice Mill: George William Baker at the Winnipeg Police Court, 1901-1903 by Stephen Grandpre
Manitoba History, Number 74, Winter 2014

Sources:

Death registrations [Jeannie Harward Baker, Annie Grime Baker], Manitoba Vital Statistics.

Who’s Who in Western Canada: A Biographical Dictionary of Notable Living Men and Women of Western Canada, Volume 1, edited by C. W. Parker, Vancouver: Canadian Press Association, 1911.

“Winnipeg barrister dies at Keewatin”, Winnipeg Free Press, 3 September 1917, page 1.

Pioneers and Early Citizens of Manitoba, Winnipeg: Manitoba Library Association, 1971.

Dictionary of Manitoba Biography by John M. “Jack” Bumsted, Winnipeg: University of Manitoba Press, 1999.

We thank Bruce Varcoe for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 23 March 2020

Memorable Manitobans This is a collection of noteworthy Manitobans from the past, compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. We acknowledge that the collection contains both reputable and disreputable people. All are worth remembering as a lesson to future generations. Search the collection by word or phrase, name, place, occupation or other text: Custom Search Browse surnames beginning with: A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y | Z Browse deaths occurring in: 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 Send corrections and additions to this page to the Memorable Manitobans Administrator at biographies@mhs.mb.ca Criteria for Memorable Manitobans | Suggest a Memorable Manitoban | Firsts | Acknowledgements Help us keep history alive!