History of Peter Baker (British politician) in Timeline

Peter Baker was a British Conservative politician and soldier who served as the MP for South Norfolk. He is most notable for being the last MP to be expelled from the House of Commons following a conviction for forgery. Beyond his political career, Baker was also an author and publisher. His life and controversial expulsion from Parliament are believed to have inspired the character of Martin York in Muriel Spark's novel *A Far Cry From Kensington*.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Challenges & Struggles

1912: Birth of Major Mervyn Sydney Bobus Vernon

In 1912, Major Mervyn Sydney Bobus Vernon, the commander of the Assault Detachment, was born.

April 1921: Peter Baker's birth

In April 1921, Peter Baker was born in Willesden, north west London. His parents were Major Reginald Poynton Baker and Gwendolyn Emily Christabel Baker née Webb.

March 1940: Officer training

In March 1940, Baker was posted to an Officer Cadet Training Unit in Catterick Garrison after enlisting in the Royal Artillery.

September 1940: Commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant

On September 7, 1940, Baker was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant.

1940: Editing Resurgam Poets

In 1940, Baker took charge of editing a broadsheet of poems named Resurgam Poets, which included some of his own works.

October 1941: Posting to Military Intelligence

In October 1941, Baker accepted a posting to be a Staff Captain in Military Intelligence based at the War Office.

June 1943: Assignment to Phantom unit in North Africa

In June 1943, Baker was assigned to the Phantom unit in North Africa at camp Bugeaud in Bône, Algeria, following training and exercises in Britain.

1943: Reconnaissance missions and illness

In late 1943, Peter Baker's squadron withdrew to Trani, where Baker developed abdominal pains. He was then flown back to Britain before Christmas and granted sick leave.

1944: Participation in Operation Marathon

In 1944, Baker participated in Operation Marathon, led by Airey Neave, that rescued 152 Allied pilots hidden in the Fréteval Forest near Châteaudun. He later returned to save other escapees and accompanied Neave to Paris, Brussels, and the Netherlands.

1944: Dispute over conservative candidate selection

In 1944, supporters of John Holt Wilson set up the South Norfolk Independent Conservative Association after a dispute over the previous selection.

1944: Publication of "The Land of Prester John"

In early 1944, while in Britain, Baker's poem sequence "The Land of Prester John" was published, which he felt received a poor critical reception.

April 1945: Liberation and return home

In April 1945, Baker was liberated from the punishment camp by the US Ninth Army. He drove a requisitioned Mercedes to Venlo, flew to Ghent, and then back to London.

August 1945: Awarded the Military Cross

On August 2, 1945, Captain Peter Baker was awarded the Military Cross in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in North-West Europe.

1945: Publication of The Silent Revolution

Late in 1945, Peter Baker added an epilogue to his essay "The Silent Revolution" which reflected on the impact of peace on the wartime generation.

1946: Publication of Confession of Faith

In 1946, Baker's war memoirs, titled Confession of Faith, were published by his own publishing company, Falcon Press.

Confession of faith

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June 1948: Marriage to Gloria Mae Heaton-Armstrong

In June 1948, Peter Baker married Gloria Mae Heaton-Armstrong, the daughter of Colonel Charles George William Stacpool Heaton-Armstrong, in Kensington.

March 1950: Falcon Press faces challenges

In March 1950, Falcon Press was struggling financially, and the company was described as "well on the rocks".

1950: Elected as MP for South Norfolk

In the 1950 general election, Baker won the seat for South Norfolk with 18,143 votes, defeating the Labour candidate, Christopher Mayhew. He was then the youngest MP.

1951: Muriel Spark Worked for Falcon Press

In 1951, Muriel Spark began working for Falcon Press.

1951: Re-elected in general election

In the 1951 general election, Baker was re-elected as MP for South Norfolk.

1952: Sale of British Book Centre

In 1952, Robert Maxwell bought the British Book Centre in New York from Baker.

June 1953: Invitation to Joseph McCarthy

In June 1953, Baker invited US Senator Joseph McCarthy to visit England and see Democracy at work, offering accommodation at his homes.

May 1954: Announcement not to seek re-election

In May 1954, Baker announced that he would not seek re-election due to ill-health, after suffering a nervous breakdown.

July 1954: Creditors Meeting

In July 1954, at a creditors' meeting, it was revealed that Falcon Press (London) Ltd. had a total deficiency of £290,823.

December 1954: Fictional Depiction in Novel

Baker is depicted as Martin York, sentenced to seven years' imprisonment for forgeries and fraud in Muriel Spark's novel "A Far Cry from Kensington"; the date of his imprisonment is also December 1954.

A Far Cry from Kensington (New Directions Paperbook)

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December 1954: Expulsion from the House of Commons

In December 1954, Peter Baker was expelled from the House of Commons following his conviction for forgery. On December 16, 1954, a motion was agreed upon to remove him.

December 1954: Expulsion

Peter Baker was expelled on 16 December 1954.

1954: Improvisation of a Pageant at the Royal Albert Hall

In 1954, Baker improvised a Pageant to fill the Royal Albert Hall, garnering 15,000 requests for the 8,000 available seats.

January 1955: South Norfolk By-Election

In January 1955, a by-election was held in South Norfolk following Baker's expulsion, and John Hill was elected as the new MP.

May 1955: Petition to Home Secretary

In May 1955, Baker petitioned the Home Secretary for a retrial, an appeal out of time, a public inquiry, or immediate release.

May 1955: Public examination in bankruptcy court

In May 1955, during the general election campaign, Baker was taken from prison to the Bankruptcy court for his public examination. He blamed his bankruptcy on the withdrawal of support by Sir Bernard Docker.

November 1955: Appeal Hearing Adjourned

On 21 November 1955, Baker's appeal hearing at the Court of Criminal Appeal was adjourned because his counsel was not prepared.

March 1956: Alleged Assurances of Release

In March 1956, Baker claimed that Hugh Quennell had assured him that the Home Office intended to release him by March 1956, which led Baker to withdraw his appeal.

1956: Second Application for Leave to Appeal

In 1956, Baker prepared a second application for leave to appeal, gathering documents and witnesses.

January 1957: Appeal Refused and Transfer to Open Prison

On 28 January 1957, Baker was refused leave to appeal. Immediately after, he was transferred from Wormwood Scrubs to HM Prison Leyhill.

1958: Wife and Children Moved to Australia

In the summer of 1958, Baker's wife and children moved to Australia without warning, leaving no address.

October 1959: Release from Wormwood Scrubs and Interview

On 23 October 1959, Baker was released from Wormwood Scrubs and gave an interview to the Daily Express, stating his intention to bring back his family.