Edward Dickinson Baker Day (February 24th)

Quick facts
When is it?	Every February 24th
Tagged as:	Famous People Historical Interest
What's the hashtag?	#EdwardDickinsonBakerDay
When was it founded?	2011
Who founded it?	Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War
We first published this page on:	Jun 26th, 2024
We last updated this page:	Jan 26th, 2026

Contents

Edward Dickinson Baker Day celebrates the life and legacy of Edward Dickinson Baker, a larger-than-life American figure who managed to be, at different times, a lawyer, a spellbinding speaker, a legislator in more than one region, and a battlefield commander.

He is often remembered for two things that feel almost cinematic: his close ties to Abraham Lincoln and the fact that he became the only sitting U.S. senator to be killed in combat.

By recognizing his contributions, the day also shines a light on the values Baker tried to practice in public: courage under pressure, loyalty to the Union during a national crisis, and a willingness to put reputation on the line for deeply held convictions.

It is also a reminder that history is built by real people with complicated careers, shifting allegiances, and friendships that influenced how they saw the country.

How to Celebrate Edward Dickinson Baker Day

Learning about Baker’s life provides insight into the Civil War era and the personal connections that influenced major political decisions. It is a time to reflect on how personal integrity, public service, and rhetorical skill can shape events far beyond one person’s lifetime.

Edward Dickinson Baker Day encourages people to dig into the era that formed him and the choices that defined him. Baker’s story touches immigration, frontier politics, national debate over secession, and the hard truth that leadership sometimes comes with very real danger.

For anyone who enjoys history with a bit of drama, he offers plenty to explore: a charismatic speaker who could electrify a crowd, a politician who moved across the growing nation, and a public figure who literally wore two uniforms, senator and soldier.

Consider a few of these ideas for getting involved with the day:

Dive into Baker’s Biography

One meaningful way to mark Edward Dickinson Baker Day is to read his biography with attention to how unconventional his life path really was. Born in London in 1811, Baker immigrated to the United States as a child and went on to build a public career that stretched across several states and territories. That level of movement alone makes his story a revealing window into the ambition and mobility of many 19th-century Americans, particularly those drawn to law and politics.

Most biographies and historical essays trace his early political years in Illinois, where he practiced law and entered public life, before following his westward moves into California and Oregon politics. While reading, it can be rewarding to notice the threads that remain constant despite the changing locations: his gift for oratory, his pull toward urgent national causes, and his tendency to place himself where the country’s biggest arguments were unfolding.

To keep the reading engaging rather than academic, it helps to watch for a few recurring themes:

How Baker spoke about the Union as something deeper than a legal arrangement.
The way he blended logical argument with emotional force.
How his views shifted as the nation edged closer to war.

Host a History Night

A themed history night is an easy way to make a heavy subject feel more accessible. Instead of trying to tackle the entire Civil War, the gathering can focus on a narrow topic such as the Battle of Ball’s Bluff, early expectations about the conflict, or the culture of the U.S. Senate in the 1860s.

A simple structure works well: choose one short documentary or lecture-style video on the early war years, then pair it with brief primary-source readings like speeches or period newspaper summaries. Baker is especially effective here because of his reputation as a powerful speaker. Even a short excerpt from one of his Senate speeches can show why audiences were drawn to him and why his colleagues took him seriously.

For a more interactive element, guests can each take on a perspective for discussion: Baker as senator, Baker as soldier, Baker as immigrant, or Baker as a friend of Lincoln. This light role assignment gives the conversation direction and helps everyone take part.

Visit a Museum

Museums with Civil War collections can help anchor Baker’s story in physical reality. Even if he is not mentioned by name, exhibits on early battles, military gear, communication methods, or debates over secession provide valuable context for the world he lived in.

Political history exhibits are especially useful for highlighting how closely government and military service overlapped in the 19th century. Baker’s life naturally raises questions that a museum visit can sharpen: What did leadership look like when communication was slow and travel was difficult? How did public figures earn trust—through speeches, through service, or through both?

A museum visit can also become a focused exploration by turning it into a small “context hunt”:

Find an exhibit that explains why early Civil War engagements often descended into confusion.
Identify an object that reflects the daily life of an enlisted soldier.
Look for displays related to political speeches, newspapers, or public persuasion.

Share Stories Online

Sharing Baker’s story online works best with a clear angle rather than a general tribute. His life offers several striking details that translate well into short posts while still inviting curiosity.

Possible angles include:

The rare fact that he was a sitting senator who died in battle.
His cross-country career, moving from Illinois to California to Oregon.
His reputation as a passionate orator defending the Union.
His friendship with Abraham Lincoln and the role of personal networks in politics.

A strong post usually pairs one vivid detail with one open-ended question. For example, mentioning that Baker delivered speeches in uniform while still serving in the Senate, then asking how people feel about political leaders taking on direct military roles, invites reflection instead of passive scrolling.

Reenactment Fun

Civil War reenactments can be enjoyable, but they also provide valuable hands-on context. Seeing the weight of equipment, the spacing of troops, and the limits of communication helps explain why early battles unfolded as they did.

Baker’s final campaign took place early in the war, when both sides were still learning hard lessons about leadership, reconnaissance, and the consequences of confusion.

At a reenactment, it can be useful to watch for details that echo Baker’s experience:

How commands are passed and how easily they can be misunderstood.
The influence of terrain, especially near rivers and high ground.
How a mission intended as reconnaissance can quickly escalate into a full battle.

Those who prefer not to participate in costume can still learn by watching demonstrations, asking questions, and treating the event as a living classroom. The purpose is not to romanticize war, but to better understand the historical setting Baker entered when he chose to lead from the front.

Edward Dickinson Baker Day Timeline

February 24, 1811

Birth of Edward Dickinson Baker

Edward Dickinson Baker is born in London, England, later immigrating to the United States and rising to prominence as a lawyer, politician, and soldier.[1]

1837

Enters Illinois Legislature and Begins Rise in Whig Politics

Baker wins election to the Illinois House of Representatives, becomes part of the rising Whig leadership in Springfield, and begins a long association and rivalry with Abraham Lincoln.[2]

1844–1846

Congressional Service from Illinois and Mexican War Command

After defeating Lincoln for the Whig nomination in 1844, Baker serves in the U.S. House, then resigns to command the 4th Illinois Regiment in the Mexican‑American War, earning a reputation for personal bravery.[3]

1852–1860

Moves West and Becomes Oregon’s Political Champion

Baker relocates to the Pacific Coast, practices law in San Francisco, wins a California House seat, then moves to Oregon and is elected U.S. senator in 1860, giving the new state a forceful anti‑slavery voice in Washington.[4]

March–August 1861

Raises the “California Regiment” for the Union

While serving as a sitting U.S. senator, Baker recruits the 71st Pennsylvania Infantry, popularly known as the California Regiment, personally organizing and leading the unit into Civil War service.[5]

October 21, 1861

Death at the Battle of Ball’s Bluff

Baker is killed while leading Union troops at Ball’s Bluff, Virginia, becoming the only sitting U.S. senator ever to die in combat and a symbol of political sacrifice in wartime.[6]

1862–1870

Legacy in Place Names and National Memory

In the years after his death, Oregon’s Baker County and Baker City are named in his honor, and his remains are interred at what becomes Arlington National Cemetery, cementing his status in national remembrance of the Civil War.[7]

History of Edward Dickinson Baker Day

Edward Dickinson Baker Day was established in Oregon through state action in 2011. The effort was supported by members of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, who advocated for formal recognition of Baker’s place in Civil War history and his connection to Oregon’s political past.

The day is observed on February 24, Baker’s birth date, and serves as a public reminder of an individual whose life intersected with some of the nation’s most defining events.

Understanding why Baker earned that kind of recognition starts with the scope of his career. Born in London in 1811 and brought to the United States as a child, he grew up in the rapidly changing political culture of the 19th century.

He became a lawyer and soon entered public life, first making his name in Illinois. There, he built a reputation not only for political ambition but for a style that made him stand out: he was a forceful speaker, the kind of person who could hold a crowd with a blend of argument and performance.

Baker’s path through American politics was unusually mobile. He served in Illinois political roles and later served in the U.S. House of Representatives. Like many public figures of the era, he also had a military career well before the Civil War.

During the Mexican-American War, he resigned his congressional seat to serve as a colonel, a choice that highlighted a recurring pattern in his life: when a conflict felt central to the nation’s future, he wanted to be involved personally, not just rhetorically.

His relationship with Abraham Lincoln adds another layer to the story. Baker and Lincoln knew each other in Illinois political circles, and Baker became part of the broader network of figures who shaped Lincoln’s political world.

Their friendship is often remembered as warm and significant, a reminder that political history is not only made in formal votes and speeches but also through relationships, trust, and personal influence.

Baker eventually moved west and entered political life there as well, serving as a U.S. senator from Oregon. That move placed him at the heart of national debates at precisely the moment the Union was fracturing. In the Senate, Baker became known for fierce opposition to secession and for speeches that treated the crisis as a test of constitutional government.

He argued that the Union was not a casual partnership that could be dissolved at will, and he spoke with the urgency of someone who believed the nation’s future depended on refusing to normalize disunion.

Then came the war, and Baker again stepped into a military role. Even while holding office, he raised troops and took command as a colonel, associated with a brigade sometimes connected to the “California” name through recruitment and organization.

His decision to serve in the field, rather than remaining solely in the Senate, is part of what makes his legacy both compelling and complicated. It is one thing to support a cause with words; it is another to shoulder responsibility for lives in battle.

Baker’s death at the Battle of Ball’s Bluff in Virginia in October 1861 sealed his place in history. The battle itself has become a cautionary tale of early-war missteps. What began as an operation shaped by imperfect intelligence and limited planning escalated into a serious fight.

Union troops found themselves in a difficult position near a bluff with the river behind them, and the logistical challenges of moving men and supplies across the water added to the danger. Baker arrived on the scene and took command, leading from the front during a chaotic engagement.

He was killed in action, and his death caused shock because of his dual status: a military commander and a sitting U.S. senator.

That singular fact, the only sitting senator killed in combat, helps explain why his story endures. It illustrates how blurred the lines between political leadership and battlefield leadership could become in the 19th century, especially during a crisis as intense as the Civil War.

It also underscores the personal stakes involved for public figures who choose direct participation rather than distant oversight.

Edward Dickinson Baker Day, as a commemorative day, does not ask people to agree with every position Baker ever held or to treat him as flawless.

Instead, it invites reflection on the kind of public service that demands both conviction and risk. It highlights a life that moved across a young nation, spoke powerfully about its future, and ended in a moment that made even seasoned political observers confront the brutal reality of the war.

Edward Dickinson Baker Day FAQs

How did Edward Dickinson Baker influence Abraham Lincoln’s political career and thinking?

Historians note that Edward Dickinson Baker and Abraham Lincoln were close friends and political allies who practiced law in Springfield, Illinois, and campaigned for the Whig Party together.

Baker’s dynamic oratory and military record contrasted with Lincoln’s more measured style, and Lincoln admired Baker enough to name his son Edward Baker Lincoln.

Their relationship exposed Lincoln to Baker’s aggressive Unionism and willingness to take up arms for the nation, which shaped the inner circle of advice and example that surrounded Lincoln as he moved toward the presidency and through the early Civil War years. [1]

Why is Edward Dickinson Baker often cited as an example of the risks of politicians serving in combat?

Edward Dickinson Baker is the only sitting United States senator ever to die in battle, having been killed while personally leading troops at the Battle of Ball’s Bluff in 1861.

His death turned a relatively small engagement into a major national crisis and highlighted the dangers of combining high political office with direct battlefield command.

The shock in Washington contributed to the creation of the Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War and made later leaders more cautious about front-line service for members of Congress. [2]

What made the Battle of Ball’s Bluff politically important despite its small size?

The Battle of Ball’s Bluff involved relatively few troops but resulted in a lopsided Union defeat and the death of Senator Edward Dickinson Baker, a close ally of President Lincoln.

The loss of a sitting senator on the field, combined with heavy Union casualties and prisoners, caused an uproar in Washington, led to accusations of incompetence against Union commanders, and helped prompt Congress to establish the Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War, which scrutinized Union military leadership for the rest of the conflict. [3]

How did Edward Dickinson Baker’s military service in both the Mexican War and the Civil War reflect attitudes toward citizen-soldiers in 19th-century America?

Baker twice left or risked high political office to lead volunteer regiments in wartime, first resigning from the U.S. House of Representatives in 1846 to command the 4th Illinois in the Mexican War and later taking command of a Civil War regiment while serving as a U.S. senator.

His actions reflected a 19th‑century ideal that prominent citizens, including lawyers and politicians, should be willing to fight alongside volunteers in wartime, even at the cost of personal safety or office, an expectation that is far less common in modern professionalized militaries. [4]

Why do historians emphasize Edward Dickinson Baker’s skills as an orator?

Contemporary accounts and later scholarship describe Edward Dickinson Baker as one of the most gifted public speakers of his generation, able to stir large crowds with emotional appeals and patriotic rhetoric.

His Senate speech in August 1861, delivered in military uniform to support the Union war effort, was widely noted as a powerful example of wartime oratory.

Historians point to his speeches to illustrate how persuasive public speaking shaped opinion and mobilized support long before mass electronic media. [5]

How did Edward Dickinson Baker’s death affect Civil War command and oversight in Washington?

Baker’s death at Ball’s Bluff intensified concerns in Congress about Union military leadership and the handling of early campaigns.

The political backlash helped spur the formation of the Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War, a powerful congressional body that investigated generals, second‑guessed strategy, and pressured the Lincoln administration.

This oversight sometimes exposed genuine problems but also contributed to an atmosphere of suspicion that could make commanders more cautious and politically minded in their decisions.[6]

In what ways did Edward Dickinson Baker’s career embody 19th‑century American mobility and expansion?

Baker’s life traced the westward movement of the United States: born in London, he immigrated as a child to Philadelphia, moved to Illinois, where he became a lawyer and politician, then went to California during the Gold Rush era before finally settling in Oregon and entering the U.S. Senate.

Historians use his path from immigrant to frontier lawyer, congressman in multiple states, and ultimately senator and soldier to illustrate how ambitious professionals followed population shifts and new states, helping knit together emerging regions of the country while pursuing opportunity on the expanding American frontier. [7]