Arthur Baker was born in Bristol on 27th June 1841 and was educated at Bristol Grammar School.  His joined his father's corn milling and merchants business in 1857 and became a partner in the firm, William Baker and Sons in 1866.  In 1870 the firm amalgamated with Spillers of Cardiff to form Spillers & Bakers Ltd. and he became a director of that company which in its day was the largest milling and corn trade business in the UK.  From 1874 onwards he represented the Redcliff ward (as a conservative) in the council where he served actively.  He was a Merchant Venturer (Warden in 1873, Master in 1875) and became Sheriff of Bristol in 1891.

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