Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 01.djvu/194

BAKER.BALCH. in 1884 of one hundred dollars for his painting, "Woodland Brook." Among his other works are: "Pleasant Day at Lake George" (1883); "October Morning" (1884); "Solitude" (1885); and "Under the Apple Trees" (1886). BAKER, William H., artist, was born in 1825, and until he was forty-two years old made his home in New Orleans, where he was engaged in business. He became interested in art, studying it first as an avocation, and later adopting it as a vocation. Though painting some from the ideal, his principal work was portrait painting. In 1865 he opened a studio in New York city, and exhibited his work in the National academy of design. In 18B9 he accepted the position of principal of the free school of design of the Brooklyn art association and was very successful in his educational work. Among his best examples are: "Cupid Disarmed" (1866); "Cupid Reprimanded" (1871); "Red Riding-Hood" (1871); "Cherry Time" (1872); "Lillies of the Field" (1873); "Truants from School" (1875), and a portrait of Bishop Quintard of Tennessee. He died in Brooklyn, N. Y., May 29, 1875. BAKER, William Mumford, author, was born in Washington, D. C., June 27, 1825, son of Daniel Baker, clergyman. In 1846 he was graduated at Princeton, and pursued a theological course under his father at Princeton seminary. He held pastoral charges in Presbyterian churches at Galveston and Austin, Texas, from 1850 to 1865; at Zanesville, Ohio, and Newburyport, Mass., and in South Boston, Mass., from 1874 to his death. He wrote much for contemporary Literature, and in 1858 published the "Life and Labors of Rev. Daniel Baker," and in 1866, under the pen-name of G. F. Harrington, "Inside: a Chronicle of Secession." This book, which vividly portrayed southern life and sentiment, was written from actual observation during his residence in Austin, attained a wide circulation and was followed by "Oak Mot" (1868); "Mose Evans" (1874); "Carter Quarterman" (1876); "A year Worth Living" (1878); "Colonel Dunwoodie" (1878); "The Virginians in Texas" (1878); "Thirlmore" and "The New Timothy" (1879); "His Majesty, Myself" (1879); "Blessed Saint Certainty" (1881); "The Ten Theophanies: or, the Manifestations of Christ before His Birth in Bethlehem" (1883); "The Making of a Man" was published in 1884. He died in South Boston, Mass., Aug, 20. 1883. BAKER, William Spohn, author, was born in Philadelphia. Pa., April 17, 1824, son of George Nice Baker, lieutenant of artillery company in the war of 1812. and Pennsylvania state representative and senator from 1823 to 1837. William Spohn was educated at private schools, afterwards studied and practised the profession of conveyancing, but retired in 1860, and turned his attention to art and literary pursuits. Mr. Baker was one of the directors of the Philadelphia school of design for women, 1874-'87; of the Pennsylvania academy of the fine arts, 1876-’90, and its vice-president, 1885-’90, and one of the vice-presidents of the Historical  society of Pennsylvania; a member of the American philosophical society; of the American historical association, and other societies. In preparing materials for his contributions to Washingtoniana he brought together a remarkable collection of the portraits, medals, and biographies of Washington. He published "Origin and Antiquity of Engraving" (Philadelphia, 1872; Boston, 1875); "American Engravers and their Works" (1875); "William Sharp, engraver, and his Works" (1875); "Engraved Portraits of Washington" (1880); "Character Portraits of Washington" (1887); "Medallic Portraits of Washington" (1884); "Bibliotheca Washingtoniana" (1889); "Itinerary of General Washington, 1775-1783" (1892); "Early Sketches of George Washington, 1775-1795" (1894); and "Washington After the Revolution," (1784-1799); Pennsylvania Magazine of History, Vol. XVIII, and other historical papers. He died in Philadelphia, Pa., Sept. 8, 1897. BALCH, George Beall, naval officer, was born in Tennessee, Jan. 3, 1821. He was taken to Alabama by his parents, and in 1837 was appointed a midshipman for that state. He served on the Cyane, and studied at the Philadelphia naval school, and in June, 1843, was promoted passed midshipman, and stationed at the naval observatory until the opening of the Mexican war in 1845, when he was attached to the squadron under Commodore Conner, and was actively employed in most of the naval engagements of the war. He served in the Mosquito fleet, and participated in the taking of Vera Cruz. From 1848-50 he served in the Mediterranean squadron and at the naval observatory. Washington. In 1850 he was promoted to a lieutenancy, and was attached to the Pacific squadron and occupied in cruising in foreign and United States waters. In 1860, while in command of the Sabine, he rescued nearly four hundred men from the sinking U. S. transport Governor, and in December, 1861, volunteered to lead the party which