Baker, Sir Herbert (1862-1946), was one of the most influential British architects of the 1900’s. Baker became especially known for the public buildings and monuments he designed in the Classical style in South Africa, India, and England.
Baker was born on June 9, 1862, in Cobham, Kent, in England. He went to Cape Town, South Africa, in 1892 and worked there until he returned to England in 1912. Cecil John Rhodes, a leading figure of the British Empire in southern Africa, engaged him to restore his house, “Groote Schuur” (1893, 1897). The house is now the official residence of the prime ministers of South Africa. Later, Baker designed many public and private buildings and monuments, including the Rhodes Memorial (1908) in Cape Town and the government Union Buildings (1912) in Pretoria. After returning to England in 1912, Baker planned several government buildings in India. He also designed India House (1930) and South Africa House (1933) in London. Baker created the designs for 112 military cemeteries in France and Belgium. He was knighted in 1926. He died on Feb. 4, 1946, and was buried in Westminster Abbey, London.
