J. Thompson Baker

Jacob Thompson Baker (April 13, 1847 – December 7, 1919) was an American Democratic Party politician from New Jersey who represented New Jersey's 2nd congressional district for one term from 1913 to 1915.

Jacob Thompson Baker
Lewisburg Journal (Lewisburg, PA), August 8, 1913
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New Jersey's 2nd district
In office
March 4, 1913 – March 3, 1915
Preceded byJohn J. Gardner
Succeeded byIsaac Bacharach
1st Mayor of Wildwood, New Jersey
In office
1911–1912
Preceded byLatimer R. Baker (As mayor of Wildwood Borough)
Succeeded byFrank E. Smith
Personal details
Born(1847-04-13)April 13, 1847
Cowan, Pennsylvania
DiedDecember 7, 1919(1919-12-07) (aged 72)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Political partyDemocratic
ProfessionAttorney
Real estate developer

Early life and education

Baker was born near Cowan, Pennsylvania on April 13, 1847. He attended the public schools and Bucknell University. He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1870 and commenced practice in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania.

Political career

He was chairman of the Democratic State convention in 1905. Baker moved to New Jersey and was one of the founders of Wildwood and the borough of Wildwood Crest. He was the first Mayor of Wildwood, New Jersey in 1911 and 1912, and was a delegate to the 1912 Democratic National Convention.

Congress

Baker was elected as a Democrat to the Sixty-third Congress, serving in office from March 4, 1913 to March 3, 1915, but was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1914 to the Sixty-fourth Congress.

After leaving Congress, he resumed real estate activities in Wildwood.

Death and legacy

Baker died in Philadelphia on December 7, 1919, and was interred in Cold Spring Presbyterian Cemetery in Cold Spring, New Jersey.

Baker's home, the J. Thompson Baker House was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966.

  • United States Congress. "J. Thompson Baker (id: B000065)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
  • Jacob Thompson Baker at The Political Graveyard
  • J. Thompson Baker at Find a Grave
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
John J. Gardner		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New Jersey's 2nd congressional district
March 4, 1913 – March 3, 1915		 Succeeded by
Isaac Bacharach
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