Entry for Professor JH Baker added to the Eminent Scholars Archive

The Squire Law Library and the Faculty of Law are pleased to announce that an entry for Sir John Hamilton Baker, Emeritus Downing Professor of the Laws of England, has been added to the Eminent Scholars Archive. Professor Baker was interviewed in the Squire Law Library on three occasions between February and March 2017, and in addition to transcripts of the audio records, readers will find an extensive photographic gallery of his life.

Professor Baker was born in Sheffield, towards the end of WWII, but grew up in Essex. He did his legal training at University College London, and while there formed a close relationship with another of our interviewees, the late Professor Toby Milsom (then at LSE). Professor Baker followed Milsom’s footsteps by entering a lifelong career of unearthing material (especially manuscripts) relating to the development of the Common Law, particularly in the late mediaeval and early Tudor periods. In the interviews, he gives, inter alia, some fascinating observations on the workings and importance of the Inns of Court, and its personalities, at this time.

Following a period on the staff at UCL, during which he was called to the Bar, Professor Baker joined the Faculty at Cambridge, and reminisces on his elevations from Squire Law Librarian, Lecturer, and Reader, to Downing Professor. On the way he was knighted, and given many academic honours.

Other eminent scholars already featured are: Professor Kurt Lipstein, Professor Peter Stein, Professor Sir Derek Bowett, Mr R.W.M. Dias, Professor Sir Eli Lauterpacht, Professor Sir Bob Hepple, ICJ Judge Stephen Schwebel, Professor Tony Jolowicz, Professor Toby Milsom, Professor Philip Allott, Mr Michael J Prichard, Professor Len Sealy, and Dame Rosalyn Higgins. There are also shorter interviews with incumbent Goodhart Professors Professor Martti Koskenniemi, Sir Robin Auld, Justice Paul Finn, Professor Jane Stapleton, Professor Peter Cane, Professor Spyridon Flogaitis, Professor Gerald Postema, Professor Leslie Zines, Professor David Dyzenhaus, Professor Cheryl Saunders, and Professor Tony Smith.

The Eminent Scholars Archive is available to listen, or subscribe to, via the University Streaming Media Service and iTunes U.