Roll of Honor
Incident
Superindentent Hilary Baker died as a result of contracting yellow fever during an outbreak in the city.
As the citizens fled the city due to the outbreak, Superintendent Baker stayed to assist the watchmen he was in charge of and gave aid to those affected. While doing so, he became ill and contracted the disease.
Superintendent Baker also served as mayor of the city of Philadelphia. While mayor, Superindentent Baker was tasked by the city council to appoint a police force to protect the city from vandalism and looting. He created the city's first paid, uniformed watch through an Act of Assembly on May 22nd, 1797. He initially appointed 20 watchmen for day patrols and 15 for the night.
Superintendent Baker was a Continental Army veteran of the Revolutionary War and had served with the Philadelphia Night Watch for a little more than a year.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and five children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-D4B612D2- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Superintendent Baker gave the Philadelphia Night Watch 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Philadelphia community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Hilary Baker served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Superintendent Hilary Baker is one of 2,974 officers lost to illness connected to their service across the full record of this memorial — 9.1% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In PA, 121 of 1,261 officers were lost to illness connected to their service — 9.6% of this state's fallen. That is 0.5 percentage points above the national rate of 9.1%.
At Philadelphia Night Watch, 1 of 3 officers on record were lost to illness connected to their service — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Illness compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Hilary Baker's cause is highlighted.
How Hilary Baker Compares
When Illness Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Illness deaths across the full memorial record. Hilary Baker is highlighted in Sep.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Philadelphia Night Watch are honored on badge.nw.
