Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

China 1842 (George Baker, H.M.S. Calliope.) original suspension, nearly extremely fine £600-£700

George Baker was born in London in 1808. He had a wide and diverse experience on many ships during his 26-year career, which began in May 1829 and ended as a Quarter Master in September 1856. He joined H.M.S. Warspite on 8 May 1829, and for much of his time at sea, he was in South American waters. While serving in this ship, Captain Talbot was credited with rescuing the Brazilian Royal family from insurrection on 6 April 1831. On 3 May 1832, a young 23 year old Charles Darwin went on board and included the following entry in the Beagle’s Diary, at Rio de Janeiro:

“Went on board the Warspite, a 74 line of battle ship, to see her inspected by the Admiral. It was one of the grandest sights I ever witnessed. When the Admiral arrived the yards were manned by about 400 seamen; from the regularity of their movements & from their white dresses, the men really looked more like a flock of wild-fowl than anything else...”

Baker served in Warspite until March 1833. His next vessel was Vestal, a 6th-rate ship with 26 guns, which was launched in April 1833. Baker joined the ship a month later and served more than 4 years until September 1837. During this time she sailed primarily in North American waters and was actively involved in apprehending slave traders. There were several interesting events while he served on board:

Jamaica 28 Apr 1835 has sailed for Bermuda for the health of her crew, suffering severely from yellow fever: the surgeon is reported to have died along with Messrs. Doswell, Wilson and Macfarlen, mates and midshipmen; together with Smith, a quarter-master; Honey and Smith, both boys; Bridges, Cooper, Joy, Butt, Burns, Winch, Peters, and Cousins, all seamen; and Carpenter, Morrison, Jacques, Sleverley, Gray, and Bratts, Royal Marines. 80 supernumeraries were put on board to take her to sea.

7 Oct 1835 seized the Spanish slave-schooner Amalia; accounts of the proceeds deposited in the Registry of the High Court of Admiralty 4 Jan 1836.

20 Sep 1836 detained in lat. 11° 47' 20" N. long. 61° 13' 30" W., near Grenada, en route from Gallinas the Portuguese slave schooner Negrinha, Miguel Soares de Lisboa, master, with 336 slaves on board which was sent for adjudication to the British and Portuguese Court of Mixed Commission, Sierra Leone, and on 19 Dec 1836 sentenced to be condemned.

Grenada 24 Sep 1836 arrived with the Portuguese slave ship Negrinha, late Norma, under Spanish colours, 139 tons, her prize, with 367 slaves on board. The Vestal has since sailed in search of her consort.

28 Sep 1836 captured the Spanish slave brigantine Empresa, with 418 slaves on board.

The Vestal is also reported to have taken the Imprega, sailing under Spanish colours, which she sent to Havana, and with the large number of men away in the prizes had to recruit local seamen from Granada.

4 May 1837 whilst on passage between Port-au-Prince to Santiago de Cuba sent the ship's boats to examine a suspicious schooner sighted at anchor at the entrance to Cumberland Harbour, also well known as Guantanamo Harbour. The boat attempted to escape by sailing further up the harbour, but the ship's boats soon boarded her and discovered that she was fitted out to carry slaves. A Spanish Lieutenant by the name of Cruz arrived on the scene and stated that the vessel, the Matilda, was his prize and that he would be taking her to the appropriate authority in the next day or so. However, by 25 May it was discovered that she had not been handed over to the Mixed Court, the only body competent to decide what should be done with the vessel, and a report was made by the Commanding Officer to the British Commissioners and members of the Mixed Court to pursue the matter with the Foreign Office. However, subsequent investigations would appear to suggest that nothing further could be done due to the stance taken by the local Spanish authorities.

19 May 1837 arrived at Havana. Is reported to have been in harbour when the infamous slave ship Socorro, renamed the Donna Maria Segunda, recently sailed for the coast of West Africa, but the Treaty between Great Britain and Portugal did not permit pursuit under these circumstances, apart from the fact that the Spanish members of the Mixed Court at Havana wouldn't have been permitted, by the Captain-General, to condemn the vessel.

Following this, he joined H.M.S. Calliope in December 1837, and served with her until March 1843, taking part in numerous actions during the Opium War.

Baker subsequently served in H.M. Ships Dee  (April 1843 to August 1845); Terrible (February 1846 to September 1849); Indefatigable (September 1849 to November 1852); Duke of Wellington (February 1853 to April 1853); and, his final ship, Simoom (June 1853 to September 1856). She served as a troop ship at the Crimea 1854-55, and Baker earned a Crimea medal while serving in the capacity of Quarter Master.