 The boy was educated at Woolwich National School and Peterborough Training Institution, later gaining science and art certificates from South Kensington Museum.He was engaged as a senior assistant-master by the School Board for London in 1875 but resigned in July 1879 to emigrate to Australia.Baker arrived in Australia in September 1879 and joined the staff of Newington College, Sydney, as science and art master in June 1880.