Edward Dickinson Baker
Born	February 24, 1811 London, UK
Died	October 21, 1861 Loudoun County, Virginia

Edward Dickinson Baker (February 24, 1811 – October 21, 1861) was a U.S. Representative from Illinois, a Senator from Oregon, a Colonel during the American Civil War, and a close friend of the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. Edward Dickinson Baker. ... February 24 is the 55th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1811 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... London — containing the City of London — is the capital of the United Kingdom and of England and a major world city. With over seven million inhabitants (Londoners) in Greater London area, it is amongst the most densely populated areas in Western Europe. ... October 21 is the 294th day of the year (295th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 71 days remaining. ... 1861 is a common year starting on Tuesday. ... Loudon County, Virginia is part of the Washington-Baltimore Metropolitan Area. ... State nickname: Old Dominion Other U.S. States Capital Richmond Largest city Virginia Beach Governor Mark R. Warner Official languages English Area 110,862 km² (35th)  - Land 102,642 km²  - Water 8,220 km² (7. ... February 24 is the 55th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1811 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... October 21 is the 294th day of the year (295th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 71 days remaining. ... 1861 is a common year starting on Tuesday. ... Seal of the House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the Congress of the United States, the other being the Senate. ... State nickname: Land of Lincoln, The Prairie State Other U.S. States Capital Springfield Largest city Chicago Governor Rod Blagojevich Official languages English Area 149,998 km² (25th)  - Land 143,968 km²  - Water 6,030 km² (4. ... Seal of the Senate The United States Senate is one of the two houses of the Congress of the United States, the other being the House of Representatives. ... State nickname: Beaver State Other U.S. States Capital Salem Largest city Portland Governor Ted Kulongoski Official languages None Area 255,026 km² (9th)  - Land 248,849 km²  - Water 6,177 km² (2. ... Insignia of a United States Air Force Colonel Colonel is a military rank, usually the highest below general grades, and just above Lieutenant Colonel. ... The American Civil War was fought in the United States from 1861 until 1865 between the United States – forces coming mostly from the 23 northern states of the Union – and the newly-formed Confederate States of America, which consisted of 11 southern states that had declared their secession. ... Seal of the President of the United States The President of the United States is the head of state of the United States. ... Order: 16th President Vice President: Hannibal Hamlin (1861-1865); Andrew Johnson (1865) Term of office: March 4, 1861 – April 15, 1865 Preceded by: James Buchanan Succeeded by: Andrew Johnson Date of birth: February 12, 1809 Place of birth: Hardin County, Kentucky (now in LaRue County) Date of death: April 15...

Baker was born in London on February 24, 1811, to Lucy Dickinson and Edward Baker. Baker was the oldest of five siblings; he had three brothers, Alfred C. (1813-1895), Thomas (after 1816-1846), and Samuel (after 1816-1849), and one sister, Rebecca (~1820-~1890). In 1816, he and his family left England to come to the United States, arriving at Philadelphia. He later moved to Illinois, where he was admitted to the bar in Carrollton in 1830.

On April 27, 1831, he married Mary Ann Lee. They would have five children together: Samuel (?-1852), Caroline C. (?-?), Lucy (?-?), Alfred W. (?-1898), and Edward Dickinson Jr. (?-1883).

A year after his marriage, Baker participated actively in the Black Hawk War.

Around 1835, he became acquainted with Abraham Lincoln and soon became involved in local politics, being elected to the Illinois House of Representatives on July 1, 1837, and serving on the Illinois Senate from 1840-1844. In 1844, while living in Springfield, he defeated Lincoln for the nomination for the 29th U.S. congressional seat and was elected as a Whig. He served from March 4, 1845, until his resignation on December 24, 1846, to take effect on January 15, 1847. The two remained close friends, however, with Lincoln naming one of his sons Edward Baker Lincoln. The Illinois House of Representatives convenes at the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield. ... The Illinois Senate convenes at the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield. ...

During the Mexican-American War, Baker briefly dropped out of politics and was commissioned as a Colonel of the Fourth Regiment of the Illinois Volunteer Infantry, on July 4, 1846. He participated in the siege of Vera Cruz and commanded a brigade at Cerro Gordo. Baker was honorably mustered out on May 29, 1847. He returned to Springfield in 1848, but, rather than run against Lincoln again for nomination to Congress, Baker moved to Galena, where he was nominated and elected as a Whig to the 31st Congress (March 4, 1849 - March 3, 1851). He was not a candidate for renomination in 1850. The Mexican-American War was a war fought between the United States and Mexico between 1846 and 1848. ... This article is about the British Whig party. ...

In 1851, after failing to receive a cabinet appointment under President Franklin Pierce, Baker moved to San Francisco, California, where he was admitted to the state bar and resumed the practice of law. It was there that he became known for his charm of speech and abilities as a lawyer. One of his most famous speeches was given on the completion of the transatlantic telegraph cable, September 27, 1858. "Thought has bridged the Atlantic," he said, "and cleaves its unfettered path across the sea." In 1860 he moved again, this time to Oregon, where he was elected as a Republican to the U.S. Senate to fill the vacancy in the term beginning March 4, 1859. His service began on October 2, 1860. Order: 14th President Vice President: William R. King Term of office: March 4, 1853 – March 4, 1857 Preceded by: Millard Fillmore Succeeded by: James Buchanan Date of birth: November 23, 1804 Place of birth: Hillsborough, New Hampshire Date of death: October 8, 1869 Place of death: Concord, New Hampshire First... The downtown San Francisco skyline, looking east from the central part of the city. ...

In May 1861 he was authorized by the Secretary of War to organize an infantry regiment to be taken as part of the quota from California. Recruiting mostly in Philadelphia, Baker raised the 1st California Infantry and served as its colonel. A few months later he was assigned command of a brigade in General Charles P. Stone's division, guarding fords along the Potomac River north of Washington. On October 21, 1861, Baker was killed at the Battle of Ball's Bluff. He is buried in Section OSD, Site 488, San Francisco National Cemetery. Of himself, Baker once said, "my real forte is my power to command, to rule and lead men. I feel that I could lead men anywhere." Baker's friends, however, thought his true talent lay in his gift of oratory. ...