1511 Joseph Baker

Constituency : Finsbury  East  1905-18

Joseph  took  Finsbury  East  from  the Tories.

Joseph  was  born  and  educated  in  Canada. He  started  work  there  in  his  father's  engineering  business. He  came  to  London  in  1878  and  started  a  UK  branch  Baker  &  Sons  which  he  chaired  after  the  death  of  his  father. He  was  a  Quaker  and  tried  to  be  a  model  employer.  His  company  had  contracts  with  London  County  Council  to  build  tramways  in  the  London  area. They  later  designed  a  new  lorry  to  service  the  docks. He  was  elected  a Progressive  councillor  for  Finsbury  East  in  1895  and  became  chairman  of  the  Housing  Committee. He  contested  the  parliamentary  seat  in  1900.

Joseph  held  onto  the seat  with  thin  majorities  in  both 1910  elections.

Joseph  was  a  strong  supporter  of  international  ecumenism, armaments  reduction  and  temperance.

During  World  War One  Joseph  raised  funds  for  an  ambulance  unit.

In  July  1918  he  suffered  a  stroke  in  the  Commons  and  died  two  weeks  later  aged  66.