WILLIAM DEAL BAKER was born in the year 1814, in the old stone homestead, in the (then) District of Kensington, Philadelphia. He is the son of Joshua Baker, of Georgia, who, being on a visit to Philadelphia, married Mary Deal, a school girl of sixteen, although she was possessed of the highest scholastic attainments, and was one of the foremost amateur musicians of the day. Her son takes great pride in attributing whatever success he has had in life to the care and teachings of his mother. She was left a widow at an early age, with four children, whose education was principally directed by her. William, after receiving a primary education at her hands, was placed in the academy of Rev. Dr. Kennedy. This course the new pupil disliked, and he abruptly left the school. Thence he was sent to Penny's Seminary, in which, after a struggle with the usher(who came off " second best "), he returned in disgust to his mother's house. He then received private instructions at the hands of two pious divinity students Charles Boyter and Septimus Tustin. From them he passed to the old "Academy," then under John Hamer, to be prepared for college; but here an unjust punishment for an alleged infraction of the rules, led him to vacate his pupilage. Finally, he found in Benjamin J. Schipper, an alumnus of a celebrated Jesuit College. He entered the University of Pennsylvania, then under the Provostship of Rev. Dr. Beasly. In the latter part of his Senior year, he published a satirical poem in three cantos, entitled, The Saturmad, which made a sensation in literary circles, and was attributed to certain celebrities of the day (as the author remained (incognito). The authorship, however, remained hidden until within a few years past. When but eighteen years old, he made a temperance speech in the First Presbyterian Church of Kensington, which was deemed worthy of publication, and was used as a textbook on that subject. Soon after this, he commenced to publish the Temperance Advocate, a weekly journal, believing that he had within his reach both fame and fortune; but he failed to receive the support he had anticipated. About this time he entered upon the study of the law with Hon. John Wurts, who not long after removed to New York. His pupils resolved to continue their studies under Hon. George M. Dallas. Shortly after his admission to the bar, he was called to occupy the editorial chair of the Commercial Herald, a combination of two journals, which had respectively been edited by Hon. Nathan Sargent and Hon. Robert T. Conrad. In those times an editor combined the present professions of City Editor, Local Reporter, and Court Reporter. He remained in this position for some time, and then became Associate Editor of the Burton’s Gentleman's Magazine, the leading literary monthly. When that gentleman abandoned his periodical for the purpose of building a new theatre, his associate, who had now " settled in life” by marrying Harriet E., daughter of Hon. Nicholas G. Williamson, of Delaware, was compelled to return to the law, and obtained a highly respectable practice, which he maintained till the events of 1844 drove him into the political arena. It was when the " War on the Bible in the public schools " commenced, and, true to his early education, he at once took a decided part in favor of the largest American liberty; in consequence of which he was expelled from the Democratic party. Then he threw all his energies and means into the cause of the American Republican party; he started a daily paper, termed the American Advocate. Highly incensed at the treatment received at the hands of his fellow Democrats, in advocating what he believed to be truly Democratic, he was impetuous in the new cause; traveled night and day, working wherever he went, making speeches in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York. The new party made its mark; a National Convention was called, to which he was a delegate, but, contrary to his advice and influence, it was termed the " Native" American organization. This sealed its fate. He lost all his fortune on the paper, which he struggled to maintain, and finally a second time returned, as he facetiously expressed himself, " to attend a legal toll-gate on the public highway." For a number of years he retired from view, but recently, without any agency on his part, he was called to serve as a delegate in the Constitutional Convention now (1873) in session.