On 26 January 1708 Baker was promoted to be rear-admiral of the white, and commanded in the second post under Sir George Byng on the coast of Scotland. He afterwards conducted Maria Anna of Austria, the daughter of Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor, who was betrothed to John V of Portugal, from Holland to Spithead, and with Sir George Byng escorted her to Lisbon. On 12 November 1709 he was advanced to be vice-admiral of the blue, and hoisted his flag in HMS Stirling Castle as second in command in the Mediterranean under Sir John Norris and afterwards Sir John Jennings.[1]