Career
Born in 1809 in the Georgetown area of Washington, District of Columbia, Baker was living in New York City when he joined the Navy. He served during the Civil War as a quarter gunner on the United States Ship Metacomet. At the Battle of Mobile Bay on August 5, 1864, he was among the crew of a small boat sent from Metacomet to rescue survivors of the United States Ship Tecumseh, which had been sunk by a naval mine (then known as "torpedoes").
Despite intense fire, the boat crew was able to pull ten Tecumseh men from the water.
Baker"s first name is given in some records as "Henry", and his medal is inscribed with that name. Served on board the United States.S. Metacomet.
Baker died on August 3, 1891, at age 80 or 81 and was buried at Mount Moriah Cemetery in Philadelphia.
