 J. Allen Baker, a Quaker by religion and an engineer by profession, was the Liberal candidate who lost in 1900 but secured a majority of 768 in the 1905 by-election.Baker was a representative of East Finsbury on the London County Council from 1895 to 1907.Baker's "Who's Who of British Members of Parliament" article suggests he was "largely interested in Temperance and Religious Work", although he is also described as an "advanced Liberal".