Baker, Lorenzo Dow (1840-1908)

Person

Dates

Existence: 1840 - 1908

Biography

One of the pioneers of the Caribbean banana trade; procuring fruit and transporting it from Jamaica to the United States; his efforts in fruit production, shipping, and marketing) L.D. Baker; known as "Dow Baker" was born in his Cape Cod hometown of Wellfleet, Massachusetts; American schooner captain; born March 15 1840, in Wellfleet; first voyage to the Caribbean in 1870; in 1879, formed L.D. Baker and Company in Port Antonio, Jamaica; by 1881, had moved himself and his family to Jamaica, established himself as an independent banana businessman in Port Antonio; purchased own banana-cultivating properties; built wharves and other fruit processing facilities at Boundbrook and Bowden; expanded his fruit exporting business

Found in 1 Collection or Record:

Boston Fruit Company records

FOUND IN: Baker Library Special Collections and Archives, Harvard Business School

Collection Identifier: Mss:1 1891-1901 B747

Overview:

Records of the Boston, Mass. based banana importing firm Boston Fruit Company, 1891-1901.