# Joshua Baker > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Joshua_Baker > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Joshua_Baker.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joshua_Baker > Source revision: 1350694211 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) American politician For the Louisiana Supreme Court justice, see [Joshua G. Baker](/source/Joshua_G._Baker). Joshua Baker 22nd Governor of Louisiana In office January 8, 1868 – June 27, 1868 Lieutenant Albert Voorhies Preceded by Benjamin Flanders Succeeded by Henry C. Warmoth Personal details Born (1799-03-23)March 23, 1799 Mason County, Kentucky Died April 16, 1885(1885-04-16) (aged 86) Lyme, Connecticut Party Democratic Spouse(s) (1) Fanny Assherton (2) Catherine Patton Children 5 Alma mater United States Military Academy Military service Allegiance United States Branch/service United States Army Louisiana State Militia Years of service 1819-1820 (Army) 1826-1861 (Militia) Rank Second Lieutenant (Army) Colonel (Militia) **Joshua Gabriel Baker** (March 23, 1799 – April 16, 1885) was a lawyer, engineer, and [planter](/source/Planter_class) who served as the military governor of [Louisiana](/source/Louisiana) during [Reconstruction](/source/Reconstruction_Era) from January to July 1868.[1] Baker opposed secession and remained loyal to The Union during the [Civil War](/source/American_Civil_War). He was appointed as military governor by General [Winfield Scott Hancock](/source/Winfield_Scott_Hancock), head of the [Fifth Military District](/source/Fifth_Military_District) which included Louisiana and Texas.[2] ## Early life Joshua Baker was born March 23, 1799, in [Mason County, Kentucky](/source/Mason_County%2C_Kentucky) to [Colonel Joshua G. Baker](/source/Joshua_Baker_(Mississippi_politician)) and Susan Lewis. In 1803, the Baker family moved to the Mississippi Territory where his father was a member of the [Mississippi Territory](/source/Mississippi_Territory)'s legislative council. In 1811, the family relocated to the vicinity of [Bayou Teche](/source/Bayou_Teche),[3] settling at [Oaklawn Plantation](/source/Oaklawn_Manor) in [St. Mary Parish, Louisiana](/source/St._Mary_Parish%2C_Louisiana), in the [Territory of Orleans](/source/Territory_of_Orleans).[2] Baker attended the [United States Military Academy](/source/United_States_Military_Academy) from 1817 to 1819. After graduating, he was commissioned a [Second Lieutenant](/source/Second_Lieutenant) in the Army Artillery Corps and served as an assistant professor at West Point before resigning in October 1820. In 1821, he moved to [Litchfield, Connecticut](/source/Litchfield%2C_Connecticut) to study law, and was admitted to the bar in Kentucky and Louisiana in 1822.[4] ## Career Baker moved back to Louisiana and remained active in public service in both St. Mary and [Terrebonne Parishes](/source/Terrebonne_Parish%2C_Louisiana). He served as a judge for St. Mary Parish from 1829 to 1832 and built the Parish courthouse in 1850. He served in state senate and was on the State Board of Public Works. In 1833, he was Assistant State Engineer for Louisiana until 1838. He was appointed Director of Public Works for the State of Louisiana 1840–1845.[2][5] From 1826 to 1829, Baker was a Colonel in the Louisiana State Militia. He also worked on Engineering projects in [Plaquemines Parish](/source/Plaquemines_Parish) until 1829, when he was appointed Judge in St. Mary Parish; a position he held until 1839. He was made Captain of Cavalry, Louisiana State Militia 1846 until 1851 and in 1853, he was appointed to the Board of Visitors United States Military Academy, serving until 1861. Throughout this time, Baker owned three plantations: Black Bayou in [Terrebonne Parish](/source/Terrebonne_Parish%2C_Louisiana), Grand River in [St. Martin Parish](/source/St._Martin_Parish), and Fairfax Plantation in St. Mary Parish. He also was enthusiastic investor in steamboat properties.[6] ### Civil War and Governorship Baker opposed Louisiana's succession from the Union and retired to his plantation in [Franklin](/source/Franklin%2C_Louisiana) in 1861 after the outbreak of the Civil War. A [Union Democrat](/source/Unionist_politician_(American_Civil_War)), he chose to cooperate with the Union Army and was elected to Congress in November 1863 from Union occupied Louisiana but refused to travel to Washington D.C. to take his seat. On January 8, 1868, Baker took the Oath of Loyalty to the Union.[7][2] He was Appointed Military Governor by General [Winfield Scott Hancock](/source/Winfield_Scott_Hancock) upon the resignation of Governor [Benjamin Flanders](/source/Benjamin_Flanders). As Governor, Baker supported the lenient reconstruction plan of President [Andrew Johnson](/source/Andrew_Johnson). His administration had little influence on the course of the Louisiana government, as its orders were liable to be countermanded by the military due to the reconstruction acts. Baker sought to fix the state treasury which was virtually insolvent. With the state bankrupt, he authorized a directive to accrue all outstanding state fees, taxes, and revenues, which were to be used in the payment of state salaries and to supplement educational institutions and state programs.[8] Baker removed nine New Orleans City Councilmen which resulted in President [Ulysses S. Grant](/source/Ulysses_S._Grant)'s reversing his order, despite Hancock's support. For this, Governor Baker resigned and retired from public life. In a special election Republican [Henry C. Warmoth](/source/Henry_C._Warmoth) was elected Governor to replace him.[9] ## Personal life In 1825, Baker married Fanny Assheton Stelle in Opelousas. Before her death on August 17, 1831, they were the parents of three children, including: - Margaret Baker (1828–1893), who married John Peck Van Bergen, a brother of [Anthony T. Van Bergen](/source/Anthony_T._Van_Bergen), a son of [New York Assemblyman](/source/New_York_Assembly) [Anthony Van Bergen](/source/Anthony_Van_Bergen), and grandson of [New York State Senator](/source/New_York_State_Senate) [Peter A. Van Bergen](/source/Peter_A._Van_Bergen).[10] He married a second time to Catherine Patton from Fairfax, Virginia in 1832. They had two children. Baker died in Lyme, Connecticut, on April 16, 1885, at "Cricket Lawn" the home of his daughter Margaret Van Bergen.[1] He was interred at [Green-Wood Cemetery](/source/Green-Wood_Cemetery) in [Brooklyn, New York](/source/Brooklyn%2C_New_York). ## References 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-NYTObit1885_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-NYTObit1885_1-1) ["Obituary -- EX-GOV. JOSHUA BAKER"](https://www.nytimes.com/1885/04/17/archives/obituary-1-no-title.html). *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)*. 17 April 1885. Retrieved 2 October 2020. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:0_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-:0_2-3) Adams, William H. (December 8, 2016) [July 11, 2011]. ["Joshua Baker"](https://64parishes.org/entry/joshua-baker). *64 Parishes*. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Soniat du Fossat, E. (1885). *Biographical sketches of Louisiana's governors: from d'Iberville to McEnery, by a Louisianaise, as a contribution to the exhibit of woman's work, in the Louisiana State Department, at the World's Industrial and Cotton Centennial Exposition, New Orleans, La., 1884-85.* New York: A. W. Hyatt, Printer. p. 43. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-nga_4-0)** ["Louisiana Governor Joshua Baker"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110521193603/http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.29fab9fb4add37305ddcbeeb501010a0/?vgnextoid=497d224971c81010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD&vgnextchannel=4b18f074f0d9ff00VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD). *www.nga.org*. [National Governors Association](/source/National_Governors_Association). 21 May 2011. Archived from [the original](http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.29fab9fb4add37305ddcbeeb501010a0/?vgnextoid=497d224971c81010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD&vgnextchannel=4b18f074f0d9ff00VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD) on 2011-05-21. Retrieved 2 October 2020. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Walter Greaves Cowan, Jack B. McGuire (2008). *Louisiana Governors: Rulers, Rascals, and Reformers*. Univ. Press of Mississippi. p. 101. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Dawson III, Joseph G. *The Louisiana Governors: From Iberville to Edwards*. Baton Rouge: [Louisiana State University Press](/source/Louisiana_State_University_Press), 1990. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Sobel, Robert, and John Raimo, eds. *Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789-1978, Vol. 2*, [Westport, Conn.](/source/Westport%2C_Conn.); Meckler Books, 1978. 4 vols. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Joshua Baker"](https://www.nga.org/governor/joshua-baker/). *National Governors Association*. 2020-01-13. Retrieved 2025-07-16. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-sos.louisiana_9-0)** ["Joshua Baker"](https://web.archive.org/web/20080221035336/http://www.sos.louisiana.gov/tabid/380/Default.aspx). *www.sos.louisiana.gov*. [Louisiana Secretary of State](/source/Louisiana_Secretary_of_State). 21 February 2008. Archived from [the original](http://www.sos.louisiana.gov/tabid/380/Default.aspx) on 2008-02-21. Retrieved 2 October 2020. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-Genealogical2000_10-0)** [*Genealogical Notes of New York and New England Families*](https://books.google.com/books?id=WdwNExWb7_QC&dq=Rachel+Ten+Broeck+Salisbury&pg=PA219). Heritage Books. 2000. pp. 218–219, 300–304. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-7884-1956-0](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-7884-1956-0). Retrieved 1 October 2020. Political offices Preceded by Benjamin Flanders Governor of Louisiana 1868 Succeeded by Henry C. Warmoth v t e Governors of Louisiana State (1812–1861) Claiborne Villeré Robertson Thibodaux H. Johnson Derbigny Beauvais Dupré Roman White Roman Mouton I. Johnson Walker Hébert Wickliffe Moore Confederate (1861–1865) Moore H. Allen Union (1862–1865) Shepley Hahn Reconstruction (1865–1868) Wells Flanders Baker State (since 1868) Warmoth Pinchback J. McEnery Kellogg Packard Nicholls Wiltz S. McEnery Nicholls M. J. Foster Heard Blanchard Sanders Hall Pleasant Parker Fuqua Simpson H. Long King O. Allen Noe Leche E. Long Jones Davis E. Long Kennon E. Long Davis McKeithen E. Edwards Treen E. Edwards Roemer E. Edwards M. Foster Blanco Jindal J. Edwards Landry Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF GND FAST WorldCat National United States Other SNAC --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Joshua Baker](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joshua_Baker) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joshua_Baker?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.