Aaron Baker

Aaron Eli Baker was an English colonial agent in the service of the English East India Company who served as the first President of the Madras and President of Bantam.

When the Presidency of Fort St George was created in 1652, Baker was appointed its first President and served until 1655. Although the engagement in private trade while holding Presidency positions became allowed with time, in the beginning it wasn’t the case and Aaron Baker and Sir Edward Winter were punished for their activities. However, that didn’t prevent Baker of acquiring a fortune in the East India trade.

Baker’s tenure coincided with the political turmoil on the Indian soil. In 1652-53, caste conflicts arose between "left-hand" and "right-hand castes" which was settled by the English, while the rebellion of Mir Jumla against his overlord in Golconda led to unrest in the area around Madras. Moreover, Bala Rao, the chief of Poonamallee, set up the blockade and economic boycott of the English trade and forced the English to reduce Fort St George from a Presidency to an Agency at the termination of Baker's term of office.

Baker returned to England and retired to Bowhay in the parish of Exminster, Devon.