This post is inspired by a research enquiry about the Ballarat Observatory. Its focus is on the life of Captain Henry Evans Baker, Ballarat’s first publicly recognized astronomer. From his base at the Ballarat Observatory, he made important contributions to this field of science.
Henry Evans Baker was born in White Hill, Kent, England in 1816. The son of Richard, a carpenter and builder, and Harriett nee Patten, who was the daughter of Joseph Patten, the Governor of Dover Castle. (1)
His mother was a devoted Christian. Captain Baker always maintained that his conversion was an answer to her prayers. (2)
At the age of twelve, he went to sea on a merchant ship and rose through the ranks until he was appointed first mate of a vessel. However, due to his inability to use navigation tools his appointment was cancelled. (3)
Henry returned to shore life and found employment in a shipbuilding yard. At night he studied mathematics and became a very good mathematician. Returning to sea he was able to obtain a Master’s position. He remained in this position for several years, working in the Mediterranean and the passenger trade to New York and Canada. (4)
In 1852, Baker married a Canadian woman, Euphemia McLeish, and with Henry being the ship’s Master of the vessel, the John Scott, they sailed for Melbourne. Upon arrival in Melbourne the ship was sold. Henry and his wife ventured to Sandhurst (Bendigo) and then onto Dunolly where they stayed for many years. (5)
In Dunolly, Baker became a gold prospector. In 1861, in partnership with three other men, Henry worked the Goldborough Gold Mining Company. More than 13,000 ounces of gold were extracted from the mine, and Henry became a wealthy man. (6)
Being self-educated, Baker had a curious mind, particularly in astronomy, physics, mathematics, practical optics and engineering. While on the goldfields he invented various pieces of mining equipment. (7)
In 1873, he constructed and exhibited his first telescope at the Melbourne Exhibition where he won the Silver Star. (8)
James Oddie, who is often referred to as ‘the father of Ballarat’, was keen for the School of Mines to have its own observatory. He instructed Mr. J. Wall to survey suitable areas where an observatory could be built. The land chosen is where the observatory stands today, in the Ballarat suburb of Mount Pleasant. The Victorian Government was persuaded to reserve a three-acre site on the land. (9)
The building of the observatory commenced in December 1885, with Oddie providing all the money required to build it. Once finished, Oddie contacted the government astronomer, Mr. J. Ellery, to recommend someone to manage the Ballarat Observatory, and Ellery suggested Henry Evans Baker. (10)
Baker came to Ballarat in 1885 to meet Oddie and show him his telescope. There was an immediate connection between the two men, and Oddie invited Baker to move to Ballarat with his family and was hence employed as Resident Astronomer at the observatory. A small cottage was moved from Sebastopol to the grounds of the observatory where the Baker family lived. (11) The observatory was opened on 11 May 1886. (12)
Henry Evans Baker’s greatest achievement and legacy was the building of the Newtonian reflector telescope, which Baker built at the observatory with equipment he had made himself. He was seventy-two years of age with failing health when work began. (13)
Mansfield describes the telescope “…as being about 5 metres long and 66 centimeters in diameter. In the old days when the specula telescopes were made of speculum metal Captain Baker spent many days grinding and polishing the mirrors at times all night long when it seemed he was on the track to success. He made several other telescopes some of which went to the Ballarat Observatory, and one went to Horton College in Tasmania.” (14)
The field of practical optics was where he had some of his best triumphs. Baker made a compound monocular microscope, having first made the necessary parts and grinding the lenses from the best French plate glass. (15) As Mansfield writes, “…at the time it was believed that no one else in Victoria could have carried out this task.” (16)
On the 22 May 1890, the Ballarat Courier carried the following paragraph: “Captain Baker of the Ballarat Observatory has been confined to his bed the past fortnight with an attack of severe illness but took a turn for the better yesterday.” (17)
Henry Baker’s recovery could not be sustained, and he died at home at the Observatory around 9 o’clock in the evening on 22 May 1890. His death certificate states that his cause of death was influenza/bronchitis. (18) Despite only four years as astronomer at the Ballarat Observatory, his legacy lives on.
He is buried in the Ballarat Old Cemetery in the family plot, Avenue Area, section 6, row 2, grave 5. (19) In May 1990, members of the Ballarat Historical Society and the Ballarat Astronomical Society placed a plaque at his grave. The inscription on the plaque reads: (20)
CAPTAIN HENRY EVANS BAKER
BORN WHITE HILLS, KENT, ENGLAND ON 21.9.1816
BUILT THE THREE ORIGINAL TELESCOPES FOR THE
BALLAARAT MUNICIPAL OBSERVATORY
AND WAS RESIDENT OFFICER FROM 1886 - UNTIL HE DIED THERE ON 22ND MAY,1890.
"PATIENT, SLOW TO BLAME, READY TO FORGIVE
GENERALLY RESPECTED BY ALL"
Simon Jacks
Australiana Research Librarian
Online Sources:
His obituary in Ballarat Star, 14 June 1890. P.1, 14 Jun 1890 - IN MEMORIAM—HENRY EVANS BAKER -https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/209707349?searchTerm=Captain%20Henry%20Evans%20Baker
Opening of the Ballarat Observatory. Ballarat Star, 12 May 1886. P.4, 12 May 1886 - THE MOUNT PLEASANT OBSERVATORY -https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/204431607?searchTerm=Mount%20Pleasant%20Observatory
Official opening of the Ballarat Observatory. Ballarat Star, 3 March 1888. P.4
03 Mar 1888 - OPENING OF THE MOUNT PLEASANT OBSERVATORY - https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/209213928?searchTerm=The%20opening%20of%20the%20observatory
Footnotes:
(1) The Ballarat Star, 14 June 1890, p.1
(2) Peter Mansfield. 'Centenary of pioneer Ballarat astronomer', The Ballarat Courier, 24 May 1990, p.6
(3) Ballarat Star, p.1
(4) Mansfield
(5) Mansfield
(6) James Flett. 'Dunolly: the story of an old gold diggings town', The Poppet Head Press. 1956
(7) Mansfield
(8) Margaret E. Davis. Henry Evans Baker: a brave, able original man. Brisbane, Qld. M.E Davis.1990 p.34
(9) Davis, p.35
(10) Anne Beggs Sunter, 'James Oddie: his life and the Wesleyan contribution to Ballarat', Master of Arts Thesis, Deakin University, 1989, p.150
(11) Beggs Sunter, p.150
(12) Ballarat Star, 12 May, 1886, P.4
(13) Davis, p.36
(14) Mansfield
(15) Mansfield
(16) Mansfield
(17) Ballarat Courier, 22 May 1890, p.2
(18) Davis, P.38
(19) Ballarat Cemeteries website, www.ballaratcemeteries.com.au, accessed 2/2/25
(20) WikiTree, https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Baker-39235 , accessed 2/2/25
