A BRIEF MEMOIR

OF THE

LIFE AND CHARACTER

OF

WILLIAM BAKER, F.G.S.

Secretary to the Somersetshire Archæological and Natural History
Society; and Vice-President of the Bridgwater Literary
and Scientific Institution.

PREPARED PRINCIPALLY FROM HIS DIARY AND CORRESPONDENCE,

BY JOHN BOWEN.

"And is then example nothing? It is everything. Example is the school of
mankind, and they will learn at no other."

EDMUND BURKE.

TAUNTON :

FREDERICK MAY, HIGH STREET.

LONDON: LONGMAN & CO., PATERNOSTER-ROW.

1854.

ADDRESS

TO THE GENERAL READER.

THE following Biographical Memoir, was prepared at the request of the authorities referred to at its commencement, and was read in part at their December Meeting. It is evidently too long for entire reading at such a Meeting, or for extended publication in the Annual Report of a Society formed for other purposes. It is equally evident that a Memoir to be in harmony with the avowed objects of such a Society, and compressible within the time and space which could be fairly assigned to it, without trespassing on the just expectations of other contributors, could scarcely comprise anything beyond a meagre notice of the deceased in connection with his contributions to that Society. This would leave the main events of a most instructive life shrouded from the contemplation of those who are more immediately interested in the example.