Dr. Francis “Frank” M. Baker, MD.

Frank Baker 1841-1918

Posted 09 Aug 2023 by esagwp
Birth: Aug. 22, 1841
Death: Sep. 30, 1918

Baker, Frank (Aug. 22, 1841 - Sept. 30, 1918), anatomist and historian, was born at Pulaski, N. Y., the son of Thomas and Sybil (Weed) Baker. His ancestors, who came from Gloucestershire, England, settled in New England and fought in the Revolutionary War. In 1861, Baker enlisted in the 37th New York Volunteers, serving until 1863; he then entered the government service at Washington, D. C. He was graduated with the degree of M.D. from Columbian (now George Washington) University in 1880. After some years of practise in Washington, he became, in 1883, professor of anatomy in the Georgetown University School of Medicine, holding this chair continuously for thirty-five years until his death. During this entire period he contributed many papers on anatomy and allied subjects to scientific societies. He also reported frequently on various phases of medical history, a subject in which he took the greatest interest.

His anatomical papers dealt especially with the teaching of anatomy. He visualized anatomy as a living subject and used his knowledge of anthropology and embryology to emphasize its dynamic character. He founded the biological and anthropological societies of Washington, D. C., served as president of the Association of American Anatomists, 1897, secretary of the Washington Academy of Science from 1890 to 1911, and edited the American Anthropologist from 1891 to 1898. He collaborated with Dr. John S. Billings in the Medical Dictionary (1890), and contributed the section on medical and anatomical terms in the Standard Dictionary (1890), as well as the anatomical article in Buck's Reference Handbook of the Medical Sciences. In 1889, he was appointed superintendent of the United States Life Saving Service and from 1890 to 1916 served as superintendent of the National Zoological Park, D. C. He read a number of papers on medical history before the Johns Hopkins Medical Society and was one of the founders of the Medical History Club of Washington. His "History of Anatomy" in Stedman's Reference Handbook of the Medical Sciences (1913), I, 323-45, is one of the best accounts of the subject ever written. He collected a valuable library on anatomy, which was divided after his death between the library of the Surgeon-General's Office, Washington, and the medical library of McGill University.

Baker's fine presence and his lively sense of humor made him a most popular teacher. His lectures to art schools were largely attended. He was a life-long friend of Walt Whitman and John Burroughs, all three having been in the government service together. By his confrères he was considered as "probably the most erudite physician in Washington." On Sept. 13, 1873, he married Mary E. Cole of Sedgwick, Me. His death occurred in Washington, Sept. 30, 1918, and his widow and six children survived him.

Burial: Unknown

Created by: Laurie
Record added: Feb 26, 2010
Find A Grave Memorial# 48818336

• Residence: 1850 - Richland, Oswego, New York, United States
• Residence: 1855 - E.D. 1, Richland, Oswego, New York, United States
• Residence: 1860 - Town of Richland, Oswego, New York, United States
• Residence: 1865 - District 01, Richland, Oswego, New York, United States
• Residence: 1880 - Washington, Washington, District of Columbia, United States
• Residence: 1890 - Washington, Washington, District of Columbia, United States
• Residence: 1900 - Washington city, Washington, District of Columbia, United States
• Residence: 1910 - Precinct 10, Washington, District of Columbia, United States
  • Reference: FamilySearch Family Tree - SmartCopy: Aug 5 2023, 15:47:38 UTC
• Reference: Ancestry Genealogy - SmartCopy: Aug 9 2023, 15:22:38 UTC schwartz

Son of the American Revolution.
He was the grandson of Revolutionary Patriot Thomas Baker (1751-1840).

He was the son of Thomas C. Baker and Sybil Weed Baker.
On September 13, 1873, he married Mary E. Cole of Sedgwick, Maine.
They were the parents of seven children. including Margaret Delight Baker Willis (1874-1941).

The following is from a merge with a duplicate memorial. It appears to have copied from Prabook. The website lists no source for the the following information.
His ancestors, who came from Gloucestershire, England, settled in New England and fought in the Revolutionary War.
In 1861, Baker enlisted in the 37th New York Volunteers, serving until 1863. He then entered the government service at Washington, District of Columbia. He was graduated with the degree of M.D. from Columbian (now George Washington) University in 1880.

After some years of practice in Washington, he became, in 1883, professor of anatomy in the Georgetown University School of Medicine, holding this chair continuously for thirty-five years until his death. During this entire period he contributed many papers on anatomy and allied subjects to scientific societies. He also reported frequently on various phases of medical history, a subject in which he took the greatest interest.

His anatomical papers dealt especially with the teaching of anatomy. He visualized anatomy as a living subject and used his knowledge of anthropology and embryology to emphasize its dynamic character. He founded the biological and anthropological societies of Washington, District of Columbia, served as president of the Association of American Anatomists, 1897, secretary of the Washington Academy of Science from 1890 to 1911 and edited the American Anthropologist from 1891 to 1898. He collaborated with Dr. John S. Billings in the Medical Dictionary (1890) and contributed the section on medical and anatomical terms in the Standard Dictionary (1890), as well as the anatomical article in Buck's Reference Handbook of the Medical Sciences. In 1889, he was appointed superintendent of the United States Life Saving Service and from 1890 to 1916 served as superintendent of the National Zoological Park, District of Columbia. He read a number of papers on medical history before the Johns Hopkins Medical Society and was one of the founders of the Medical History Club of Washington. His "History of Anatomy" in Stedman's Reference Handbook of the Medical Sciences (1913), I, 323-45, is one of the best accounts of the subject ever written. He collected a valuable library on anatomy, which was divided after his death between the library of the Surgeon-General's Office, Washington and the medical library of McGill University.

Baker's fine presence and his lively sense of humor made him a most popular teacher. His lectures to art schools were largely attended. He was a life-long friend of Walt Whitman and John Burroughs, all three having been in the government service together. By his confrères he was considered as "probably the most erudite physician in Washington." On September 13, 1873, he married Mary E. Cole of Sedgwick, Maine. His death occurred in Washington, September 30, 1918 and his widow and six children survived him.

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Aug 9 2023, 15:40:51 UTC