Richard Baker

Sir Richard Chaffey Baker (22 June 1842 – 18 March 1911) was an Australian politician. A barrister by trade, he embarked on a successful career in South Australian colonial politics, serving as Attorney-General of South Australia from 1870 to 1871 and President of the South Australian Legislative Council from 1893 to 1901 before switching to federal politics after federation. He served as the inaugural President of the Australian Senate from 1901 to 1906. A noted federalist, he was the son of one-time Premier of South Australia John Baker. Early life Baker was born on 22 June 1841 in North Adelaide, South Australia. He was the oldest son of twelve children – including younger sister Bessie – born to Isabella (née Allan) and John Baker, who had settled in South Australia in 1839 after marrying in Van Diemen's Land the previous year. His father was born in Somerset, England, and had a variety of business and agricultural interests. He was elected to the South Australian Legislative Council in 1851 and served briefly as premier in 1857. Baker was sent to England to be educated, attending Eton College before going on to Trinity College, Cambridge, where he rowed for the Third Trinity Boat Club and graduated Bachelor of Arts in 1864. He was called to the bar at Lincoln's Inn in the same year and returned to Adelaide where he set up a practice with Charles Fenn. In 1873 he entered into a partnership with William Barlow. Baker's legal practice suffered as he devoted more time to politics, and his appointment as Queen's Counsel in 1900 was somewhat controversial. Colonial politics