John William Baker

John William Baker (c1775 - 1860), was an American and later Spanish-Cuban slave trader.

He was the son of Jacob Baker, a Philadelphia merchant. He moved to Trinidad, Cuba in 1805. and became wealthy through the slave trade and sugar plantations. He became a naturalised Spanish citizen in 1819, and changed his name to Juan Guillaume Béquer.

He built himself a mansion in Trinidad. When he tried to lay a mosaic of doubloons in the floor of the dining room, authorities pointed out it would be improper to walk on the Spanish coat of Arms.[1] The mansion was burned in the Cuban War of Independence from Spain.

  • John William Baker Palace Sketch, Trinidad, Cuba
  • Photograph of a painting of John William Baker.
  • Photograph of a painting of Josefa Barcelo Y Georovich, John William Baker's wife.
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References
  1. Kenny, Peter M. "Opulence Abroad: Charles-Honoré Lannuier's Gilded Furniture in Trinidad de Cuba". www.chipstone.org. Chipstone Foundation. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
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