Monroe Baker (born 1821 or 1823) was an American politician who served as mayor of St. Martinville, Louisiana, one of the earliest if not the first African-American mayor in the United States.
[1] In October 1867, Governor Benjamin Flanders appointed him mayor of St. Martinville after the death of Mayor Pierre Gary.
[3][4] In response, an editorial printed in an Alexandria newspaper called Baker a slur and said it was unnatural for a black person to be mayor over white residents.
[6] In 1875, Baker ran in the election for the four seats for trustees of St. Martinsville; he came in fifth place.
[7] In the 1870 census, Baker was listed as a "livery stable keeper", and by 1891, he was listed as "an enterprising citizen and successful planter".