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William O. Baker

1915 – 2005

(1915-2005) American chemist

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About William O. Baker

Lived 1915 – 2005 (aged 90). William O. Baker was an American chemist.

William Oliver Baker (July 15, 1915 – October 31, 2005) was president of Bell Labs from 1973 to 1979 and advisor on scientific matters to five United States presidents. and was a longtime resident of Morristown, New Jersey.

He died of heart failure on October 31, 2005, in Chatham, New Jersey.

Awards and honors Member of the United States National Academy of Sciences (1961) Perkin Medal (1963) Member of the American Philosophical Society (1963) Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (1965) Priestley Medal (1966) IRI Medal from the Industrial Research Institute (1970) American Institute of Chemists Gold Medal (1975) Charles Lathrop Parsons Award, American Chemical Society (1976) Miles Conrad Award, NFAIS (1977) Willard Gibbs Award (1978) Vannevar Bush Award (1981) SASA Medal of Achievement (1984) Thereafter known as the William Oliver Baker Award National Medal of Science (1988) Benjamin Franklin Medal for Distinguished Achievement in the Sciences of the American Philosophical Society (2000). AAAS Philip Hauge Abelson Prize (1995) Marconi Society (2003)

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Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
Nationality
Education
Princeton University, Washington College
Employers
Bell Labs
Awards
William Procter Prize for Scientific Achievement; Willard Gibbs Award; IEEE Frederik Philips Award; Perkin Medal; National Medal of Science; Philip Hauge Abelson Prize; IRI Medal; Von Hippel Award; Priestley Medal; Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences; Charles Lathrop Parsons Award; American Institute of Chemists Gold Medal

People in William O. Baker's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped William O. Baker's

Frequently asked questions

Who was William O. Baker?

(1915-2005) American chemist

When was William O. Baker born?

William O. Baker was born on 15 July 1915 in Chestertown.

When did William O. Baker die?

William O. Baker died on 31 October 2005 in Chatham Borough.

What was William O. Baker's occupation?

William O. Baker was a chemist.

What nationality was William O. Baker?

William O. Baker was American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: William O. Baker

· Wikidata: Q337885

· DBpedia: William O. Baker

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). William O. Baker. https://biography.guide/william-o-baker/

MLA: "William O. Baker." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/william-o-baker/.

Chicago: "William O. Baker." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/william-o-baker/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-21 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

Portrait: Wikimedia Commons · author & licence

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