[2] Baird was educated in the public schools of Philadelphia and, at an early age, secured a position as assistant to one of the professors of chemistry at the University of Pennsylvania.

During that position, he acquired "valuable training and technical knowledge that was of the utmost use to him in his future business career.

At this time, he developed (but did not patent) a new fire arch to improve steam locomotive combustion.

[6] In 1867, he formed a partnership with George Burnham and Charles T. Parry under the firm name of The Baldwin Locomotive Works, M. Baird & Co., Proprietors, which continued until his retirement in 1873.

He was also one of the incorporators and a director of the American Steamship Company and was a large stockholder of the Pennsylvania Railroad.