lieutenant in the artillery battalion commanded by Colonel Jehu Eyre. His great-grandfather, Captain George Nice, also commanded a company of the Second Battalion Philadelphia Artillery Militia.

After being educated in the private schools of this city, Mr. Baker entered the office of Andrew D. Cash, Esq., with whom he studied conveyancing. He practised his profession for some years, and then turned his attention to literary pursuits and historical research, particularly in all matters relating to Washingtoniana, of which he was recognized the foremost authority in the United States. He was elected a member of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania April 28, 1873, and of its Council in 1885, and since 1892 one of its Vice-Presidents. Ardent and unselfish in his devotion to the interests of the Society and sound in his business advice, he made himself an agreeable and helpful associate. His colleagues have recorded their estimation of his personal qualifications and worth in the following minute:

"That by the death of William Spohn Baker the Council and the Historical Society have lost a most active and zealous co-laborer in their work. He was the warm friend and promoter of all plans designed to extend and widen the influence of the Society. Feeling the importance of a more general knowledge of American history in the community, he spared no labor, and made use of a critical and discriminating judgment in gathering material to illustrate the course of events. With this material, carefully used, he formed a collection of great value, enabling him to speak

with authority in his own work on the Revolution, and especially on the career of Washington, and finally enabling him, by his munificent bequest of this collection to the Society, to aid students of American history who might come after him.”

Second only to Mr. Baker's interest in and devotion to the Historical Society were his active and valuable services to the Pennsylvania Society of the Sons of the Revolution, of which he was a member of its Board of Managers and chairman of the important "Committee on Memorials." His discovery of the camp-site of Washington's army at the "Falls of Schuylkill," just before and after the battle of Brandywine,—a location which our historians had been at a loss to satisfactorily account for,-and his researches relating to the camp at the Gulph Mill testify to the interest he took in the objects of the Society. It was largely through his individual efforts that memorial stones mark their sites. Among the other societies with which he was connected may be mentioned the American Philosophical Society, in which he filled the office of Curator for several years; the American Historical Association; the American Numismatic and Archæological Society of New York; the New Jersey Historical Society; the Society of the War of 1812; the Colonial Society of Pennsylvania, of which he was a member of the Board of Managers; the German Society; and the Netherland Society, serving one term as President. He was also a director of the School of Design for Women from 1877 to 1881; in the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts he was a director from 1876 to 1890, and Vice

President from 1885 to 1890; a director of the Athenæum of Philadelphia from 1888 to his death; and a director of the Commercial National Bank.

Mr. Baker's first literary inclinations were towards the art of engraving and not on the line of historical research, and his early published works are on the origin and antiquity of engraving and American engravers and their work. Although not an artist in the accepted sense of the word, he was thoroughly familiar with the history and artistic value of the majority of rare prints, either American or foreign, and some of the treasures which he gathered are of the finest character. When he turned his attention to Washingtoniana, he began the collection of books, prints, and medals in order to acquire the knowledge which he considered necessary for the production of the standard works which have emanated from his pen. His Washington library, which is composed of about five hundred volumes and pamphlets, contains many rare works, among them a copy of every edition of Mason L. Weems's "Life of Washington." The most important among his pamphlets are those from which he compiled his "Early Sketches of Washington." Many of these were printed in English and French magazines during the period of Washington's lifetime, and have been lost sight of by the average biographer. Copies of the unpublished diaries of Washington are also a noteworthy feature of his collection. Although a lover of books, Mr. Baker can in no wise be classed with the ordinary book-collectors who take a more or less selfish pleasure in gratifying their hobby, and who seldom do any real liter

ary work or consider the pleasure that might be derived by the general public from the treasures of their collections. He viewed the subject in a very different light.

Equally valuable is his collection of Washington prints, about eleven hundred in number. The most remarkable of these is a mezzotinto engraving from the military portrait of Washington, executed from life by Charles Willson Peale, by the order of Congress. The original painting hung in the State-House, but on the night of September 12, 1781, it was totally defaced by some vandals. A year before, Mr. Peale had fortunately executed a mezzotinto engraving of this painting, but as only a limited number of impressions were taken, the engraving is among the rarest of Washington prints. Mr. Baker's "Engraved Portraits of Washington" is virtually a catalogue of his collection to the year 1880, but since that date he has made many additions. His collection of medals, coins, and tokens numbers upwards of eleven hundred pieces. In bequeathing all his treasures to the Historical Society, he knew that they would always be appreciated and receive the care and attention he had bestowed on them, and that they would be made accessible to the historical student. Mr. Baker's contributions to the PENNSYLVANIA MAGAZINE, and all his historical works, are noted for their thoroughness, for he always verified every statement by the most methodical and painstaking research. Thoroughness was a habit of his life. His judgment was sound, and having adopted an opinion, he was zealous, though conciliatory, in enforcing it. The activity of his mind remained undiminished to the day of his death, and particu

larly during the cooler months of the year he was constantly occupied in his favorite study at his home and at the rooms of the Historical Society.

Mr. Baker was rather cautious in his attachments, but when his friendship was obtained, it was enduring. He was always gratified with the society of his friends, in his conversation was genial, interesting, and instructive, and he entertained them with unaffected hospitality.

Mr. Baker was married May 12, 1853, to Eliza Downing, daughter of Richard and Jane Bartleson Rowley, and is survived by a daughter, Laura, wife of Henry Whelen, Jr., of this city.

THE WORKS

OF

WILLIAM SPOHN BAKER.

The Origin and Antiquity of Engraving: with some Remarks on the Utility and Pleasures of Prints. Spero meliora. 8vo, pp. 62. Philadelphia, 1872. (Dedication signed W. S. B.)

The Origin and Antiquity of Engraving: with some Remarks on the Utility and Pleasures of Prints. By W. S. Baker. With heliotype illustrations. 4to, pp. 62. Boston, 1875.

William Sharp, Engraver: with a Descriptive Catalogue of his Works. By W. S. Baker. Small 8vo, pp. 121. Philadelphia, 1875.

American Engravers and their Works. By W. S. Baker. Collige et inscribe. Small 8vo, pp. 184. Philadelphia, 1875. (Large paper edition of the same.)