Henry Aaron Baker (1753–1836), was a prominent Irish

architect An architect is a person who plans, designs, and oversees the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to provide services in connection with the design of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the buildings that h ...

renowned for his contributions to Irish neoclassical architecture. From 1777 to 1779, Baker was a studied at the Dublin Society's School of Architectural Drawing under

Thomas Ivory Thomas Ivory (1709–1779) was an English builder and architect, active in Norwich. Life Ivory was born in 1709. His early years and education remain obscure. His earliest recorded large commission was in his capacity as a builder and timber m ...

. Following Ivory's death, Baker was a pupil of

James Gandon James Gandon (20 February 1743 – 24 December 1823) was an English architect best known for his work in Ireland during the late 18th century and early 19th century. His better known works include The Custom House and the surrounding Beresfor ...

, 'and acted as clerk of the works to the buildings designed and chiefly constructed by his master for the

Inns of Court The Inns of Court in London are the professional associations for barristers in England and Wales. There are four Inns of Court: Gray's Inn, Lincoln's Inn, Inner Temple, and Middle Temple. All barristers must belong to one of them. They have s ...

, then called the King's Inns, at Dublin'. He was a member of, and for some time secretary to, the

Royal Hibernian Academy The Royal Hibernian Academy of Arts (RHA) is an artist-based and artist-oriented institution in Ireland, founded in Dublin in 1823. Like many other Irish institutions, such as the Royal Irish Academy, the academy retained the word "Royal" after mo ...

. In 1787 he was appointed teacher of architecture in the

Dublin Society The Royal Dublin Society (RDS) () is an Irish philanthropic organisation and members club which was founded as the 'Dublin Society' on 25 June 1731 with the aim to see Ireland thrive culturally and economically. It was long active as a learned ...

's school, and retained the post till his death. In 1789, he erected the triumphal arch known as Bishop's Gate at

Derry Derry, officially Londonderry, is the second-largest City status in the United Kingdom, city in Northern Ireland, and the fifth-largest on the island of Ireland. Located in County Londonderry, the city now covers both banks of the River Fo ...

, and in 1791, the Spire of Lloyd in Kells, County Meath. In 1802-04, he gained the first prize for a design for converting the Irish parliament house into a bank. The superintendence of that work was given, however, to another architect, Francis Johnston. He died on 7 June 1836.

References

;Attribution {{DEFAULTSORT:Baker, Henry Aaron 1753 births 1836 deaths 19th-century Irish architects 18th-century Irish architects