Raymond T. Baker
Encyclopedia
Raymond Thomas Baker was a rich United States
businessman who was Director of the United States Mint
from 1917 to 1922.
in 1877, the son of George Washington Baker, the lead counsel of the Southern Pacific Railroad
, and Mary Agnes (Hall) Baker. He was educated at the University of Nevada, Reno
, then at Stanford University
.
After college, Baker became involved in gold mining
, being one of the first investors active in Rawhide, Nevada
. He became a rich man when he sold his claims. He then moved east and had a brief romantic relationship with Elinor Glyn
. Baker had a longtime interest in prison reform
and in 1911, with his brother, Cleve Baker, serving as Nevada Attorney General
, Raymond T. Baker became warden of the Nevada State Prison
, a position he held from February 1, 1911 to May 10, 1912. In 1915, Baker traveled to Russia
to become confidential secretary to United States Ambassador to Russia George T. Marye, Jr.
In 1917, President of the United States
Woodrow Wilson
named Baker Director of the United States Mint
and Baker subsequently held this office from March 1917 until March 1922.
On June 12, 1918, he married Margaret (Emerson) Vanderbilt, widow
of Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt I, who had died when the RMS Lusitania
was sunk.
During the 1926 Senate elections, Baker sought election as United States Senator from Nevada on the Democratic
ticket, but was defeated by the Republican
incumbent, Tasker Oddie
.
After a decade of marriage, Baker and his wife divorced. On December 4, 1928, he married a second time, to Delphine (Dodge) Cromwell, daughter of Horace Elgin Dodge
and ex-wife of James H. R. Cromwell
.
Baker died on April 28, 1935, approximately three months after suffering a heart attack.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
businessman who was Director of the United States Mint
Director of the United States Mint
The Director of the United States Mint is the head of the United States Mint. The position is currently vacant following the resignation of Edmund C. Moy in January 2011....
from 1917 to 1922.
Biography
Raymond T. Baker was born in Eureka, NevadaEureka, Nevada
Eureka is an unincorporated township in and the county seat of Eureka County, Nevada, United States. Eureka is by far the largest community in Eureka County...
in 1877, the son of George Washington Baker, the lead counsel of the Southern Pacific Railroad
Southern Pacific Railroad
The Southern Pacific Transportation Company , earlier Southern Pacific Railroad and Southern Pacific Company, and usually simply called the Southern Pacific or Espee, was an American railroad....
, and Mary Agnes (Hall) Baker. He was educated at the University of Nevada, Reno
University of Nevada, Reno
The University of Nevada, Reno , is a teaching and research university established in 1874 and located in Reno, Nevada, USA...
, then at Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
.
After college, Baker became involved in gold mining
Gold mining in Nevada
Gold mining in Nevada, a state of the United States, is a major industry, and one of the largest sources of gold in the world. Nevada currently mines 79% of all the gold in the United States, which is equivalent to in 2009. Total gold production from Nevada recorded from 1835 to 2008 totals ,...
, being one of the first investors active in Rawhide, Nevada
Rawhide, Nevada
Rawhide, Nevada was a town in Mineral County, Nevada, approximately 55 miles southeast of Fallon. The site of Rawhide has been obliterated by recent mining activity, with little or nothing remaining to be seen.-History:...
. He became a rich man when he sold his claims. He then moved east and had a brief romantic relationship with Elinor Glyn
Elinor Glyn
Elinor Glyn , born Elinor Sutherland, was a British novelist and scriptwriter who pioneered mass-market women's erotic fiction. She popularized the concept It...
. Baker had a longtime interest in prison reform
Prison reform
Prison reform is the attempt to improve conditions inside prisons, aiming at a more effective penal system.-History:Prisons have only been used as the primary punishment for criminal acts in the last couple of centuries...
and in 1911, with his brother, Cleve Baker, serving as Nevada Attorney General
Nevada Attorney General
The Nevada Attorney General is the top legal officer for the state of Nevada. The functions of the office are set forth in Nevada Revised Statutes, Chapter 228. The Attorney General represents the people of Nevada in civil and criminal matters before trial, appellate and the supreme courts of...
, Raymond T. Baker became warden of the Nevada State Prison
Nevada State Prison
Nevada State Prison is a penitentiary located in Carson City. The prison has been in continuous operation since it was established in 1862 and is managed by the Nevada Department of Corrections. It is one of the oldest prisons still operating in the United States. The high security facility housed...
, a position he held from February 1, 1911 to May 10, 1912. In 1915, Baker traveled to Russia
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
to become confidential secretary to United States Ambassador to Russia George T. Marye, Jr.
George T. Marye, Jr.
George Thomas Marye, Jr. was an American banker from San Francisco, appointed Ambassador to Russia by President Woodrow Wilson.-Biography:He was born on December 13, 1849 to George Thomas Marye, Sr....
In 1917, President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Woodrow Wilson
Woodrow Wilson
Thomas Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States, from 1913 to 1921. A leader of the Progressive Movement, he served as President of Princeton University from 1902 to 1910, and then as the Governor of New Jersey from 1911 to 1913...
named Baker Director of the United States Mint
Director of the United States Mint
The Director of the United States Mint is the head of the United States Mint. The position is currently vacant following the resignation of Edmund C. Moy in January 2011....
and Baker subsequently held this office from March 1917 until March 1922.
On June 12, 1918, he married Margaret (Emerson) Vanderbilt, widow
Widow
A widow is a woman whose spouse has died, while a widower is a man whose spouse has died. The state of having lost one's spouse to death is termed widowhood or occasionally viduity. The adjective form is widowed...
of Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt I, who had died when the RMS Lusitania
RMS Lusitania
RMS Lusitania was a British ocean liner designed by Leonard Peskett and built by John Brown and Company of Clydebank, Scotland. The ship entered passenger service with the Cunard Line on 26 August 1907 and continued on the line's heavily-traveled passenger service between Liverpool, England and New...
was sunk.
During the 1926 Senate elections, Baker sought election as United States Senator from Nevada on the Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
ticket, but was defeated by the Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
incumbent, Tasker Oddie
Tasker Oddie
Tasker Lowndes Oddie was an American politician. He was the 12th Governor of Nevada and a United States Senator. He was a member of the Republican Party.-Biography:...
.
After a decade of marriage, Baker and his wife divorced. On December 4, 1928, he married a second time, to Delphine (Dodge) Cromwell, daughter of Horace Elgin Dodge
Horace Elgin Dodge
Horace Elgin Dodge, Sr. was an American automobile manufacturing pioneer and co-founder of Dodge Brothers Company.-Early years and business:...
and ex-wife of James H. R. Cromwell
James H. R. Cromwell
James Henry Roberts Cromwell was an American diplomat, candidate for the United States Senate, author, and one-time husband of Doris Duke, "the richest girl in the world".-Biography:...
.
Baker died on April 28, 1935, approximately three months after suffering a heart attack.