BAKER, VALENTINE (BAKER PASHA) (1827-1887), British soldier, was a younger brother of Sir Samuel Baker (q.v.). He was educated at Gloucester and in Ceylon, and in 1848 entered the Ceylon Rifles as an ensign. He distinguished himself in the Kafir War of 1852-53 and in the Crimean War, and was for 13 years colonel of the loth Hussars. He went through the wars of 1866 and 1870 as a spectator with the German armies, and in 1873 he started upon a famous journey through Khorassan. Though he was unable to reach Khiva the results of the journey afforded a great deal of political, geographical and military information, especially as to the advance of Russia in Central Asia. In 1874 he was back in England and took up a staff appointment at Alder shot. Less than a year later Colonel Baker's career in the British army came to an untimely end. He was arrested on a charge of indecent assault upon a young woman in a railway carriage, and was sentenced to a year's imprisonment and a fine. Two years later he entered the service of Turkey in the war with Russia. At first in a high position in the gendarmerie, he was soon transferred to Mohammed's staff, and thence took over the command of a divi sion of infantry. With this division Baker sustained the brilliant rearguard action of Tashkessan against the troops of Gourko. Promoted Ferik (lieutenant-general) for this feat, he continued to command Suleiman's rearguard with distinction. In the year 1883 he accepted the command of the newly-formed Egyptian army. On his arrival at Cairo, however, the offer was withdrawn and he only obtained the command of the Egyptian police.
When the Sudan War broke out, Baker, hastening with 3,500 men to relieve Tokar, encountered the enemy under Osman Digna at El Teb. His men became panic-stricken at the first rush and allowed themselves to he slaughtered like sheep. Baker himself with a few of his officers succeeded by hard fighting in cutting a way out, but his force was annihilated. British troops soon after wards arrived at Suakin, and Sir Gerald Graham took the offensive. Baker Pasha accompanied the British force, and guided it in its march to the scene of his defeat, and at the desperately-fought second battle of El Teb he was wounded. He remained in command of the Egyptian police until his death in 5887. Amongst his works may be mentioned Our National Defences (186o) ; lf'ar in Bul garia, a Narrative of Personal Experience (1879) ; Clouds in the East (5876).