Ezekiel Baker (politician)

Ezekiel Alexander Baker (1 December 1823 – 28 January 1912)[1] was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly.

Baker was born in Middlesex, England, to Ezekiel John Baker and Elizabeth, née Burgess. He trained in his fathers business of manufacturing firearms and also studied mineralogy and mining.[2]

He emigrated to New South Wales in 1853 as mineralogist to a mining company.[3] He was elected to the Legislative Assembly for Goldfields South at the 1869-70 election,[4] and was also a member of the Goldfields Committee. In June 1870 he was appointed to a Royal Commission into the goldfields and water supply.[5] His seat was declared vacant in November 1870 as he had accepted an office of profit under the crown,[6] however he comfortably regained it at the by-election in December 1870.[7] He retained the seat at the elections in 1872,[8] and 1875.[9]

When Thomas Garrett, the Secretary for Lands in the third Robertson Ministry, resigned his office, in February 1877, Baker was appointed to succeed him, but the Government only held office till March.[1] He was appointed Secretary for Mines in the fourth Robertson ministry, in August 1877, exchanging that post for Secretary for Lands in November, and going out of office with his colleagues in December.[1] Baker was again Minister of Mines in the third Parkes ministry from December 1878 to August 1881.[1] The Goldfields districts were abolished as a result of the 1880 redistribution,[10] and Baker was the first elected of two members for the expanded district of Carcoar.[11]

Baker was expelled from the Assembly in November 1881 on allegations of bribery and corruption.[2] He was a candidate at the December 1881 by-election, but was defeated.[12] Charges against him were subsequently dropped and Baker petitioned parliament to rescind its censure of him, which was agreed in May 1884.[2] He was again elected as the member for Carcoar at the November 1884 by-election,[13] retaining the seat at the 1885 election,[14] retiring at the election in January 1887.[1]

Baker died in Hurstville, Sydney, New South Wales, on 28 January 1912(1912-01-28) (aged 88).[1]