Lord Baker (Sir John Fleetwood Baker, 1901-85) was Professor of Mechanical Sciences and Head of the Department of Engineering at the University of Cambridge from 1943 to 1968. He was a Fellow of the Royal Society. Baker's pioneering research led to the development of the plastic theory of design, originally used for steel frames but now recognized as being valid for many structural materials, such as aluminium and reinforced concrete. Additionally, Baker was responsible for many curriculum innovations at the university and was the author of The Steel Skeleton, a two-volume work.
