Was John the Baptist baptised.  If so, by whom?

Dear Soberface, 

There is no easy answer to this question, as there are different
doctrines among different Christian groups (pugwashjw, as his username
might reveal, is a Jehovah Witness).

Roman Catholic Doctrine
=======================
"One needs to receive the waters of Baptism even if one be John the
Baptist. Our Faith tells us this innocently and clearly. And the great
Doctors of the Church, including Saint Jerome and Saint John
Chrysostom, positively affirm it to be so, and go out of their way to
tell us that John the Baptist was baptized by Jesus."
(SOURCE: OUR LADY?S FULLNESS OF GRACE, Catholicism.org,
<http://www.catholicism.org/BoL/chapter10.htm>).

The Catholic (and others) support themselves on Luke 1:41-4 : 
"When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb,
and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42In a loud voice she
exclaimed: ?Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you
will bear! 43But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord
should come to me? 44As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my
ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. "
(Gospel.com <http://bible.gospelcom.net/passage/?search=Luke%201>). 


Baptist/Evangelical Doctrine
============================
"[...] some in Scripture are said to be chosen or sanctified from the
womb (1 Samuel 1:8-2:21; Jeremiah 1:5; Luke 1:15). This certainly
affirms the salvation of some infants and repudiates the view that
only baptized babies are assured of heaven. Neither Samuel, Jeremiah
or John the Baptist was baptized."
(SOURCE:  R. Albert Mohler, Jr. and Daniel L. Akin, "Why we Believe
Young Children Who Die Go to Heaven". 2002. Pastor.com
<http://www.pastors.com/articles/childrenheaven.asp>).


So, two answers, and I am sure that there are more. Please contact me
if you need any clarification on this answer before you rate it; My
search term have been:
"john the baptist was baptized"

Hi Soberface. John the Baptiser was the son of Zechariah and
Elizabeth. Both of John's parents were of the priestly "house of
Aaron" the Jewish tribe who were given the sole responsibility of
carrying out priestly duties in God's Temple or House of Worship.
Elizabeth and Mary, Jesus' mother, were pregnant at nearly the same
time. John was born about six months before Jesus.
Zechariah, his father, was a priest of the division of Abijah. About 3
B.C.E., when Zechariah was offering incense at the altar, the angel
Gabriel appeared and told Zechariah that he would have a son , who was
to be called John. This son would be a lifetime Nazirite, the same as
Samson. He was to be great before Jehovah [ God's name=Exodus 6;3] .
John's course on earth was to "get ready for Jehovah a prepared
people". Unlike Jesus, John was conceived by two people, but was still
miraculous in that both his parents were of advanced age. [ Luke 1;
7-17]
After John was born, relatives wanted him named after his father, but
Elizabeth said " No! indeed, but he shall be called John"
Zechariah had been rendered speechless since his encounter with the
angel Gabriel. He wrote an a tablet, 'John is his name", and his
speech returned. [ Luke 1; 18-20 and 57-66]
From this, John the Baptist was chosen and Baptised by Jehovah God
himself, and given the priestly duty of Baptising Jesus, thirty years
later.

One of the links supplied by Politicalguru on Catholic doctrine states
that John the Baptist was baptised by Jesus. Certainly, they were
cousins and most likely knew each other all their lives, but NOWHERE
does the Bible state categorically that John was baptised by Jesus.
This would have been of tremendous impact and not ignored by Bible
writers. Jesus did not have God's authority to commence his ministry
UNTIL he was baptised. And although being a devout Jew, UP TO THAT
MOMENT, he had no knowledge of his pre-human existence [Proverbs
8;23,30] It is important to keep in mind that Proverbs was written 716
years before Jesus, by Solomon, Agur and Lemuel, all under God's
inspiration.
Luke chapter 3 gives good insight into the commencement of John
baptising people. Verse 15 says that these people thought John may be
the Christ, but he said he was unworthy to even tie the shoelaces of
"the one coming". Verse 21 says simply, " Now when all the people were
baptised, Jesus, also was baptised, and as he was praying, the heavens
was opened up....and a voice came out of heaven, " You are my son the
beloved, I have approved you".

John was baptized at infancy by the local rabbi, which happened to be
his father, as was his half-brother after him.

Dear Raym, 

I haven't heard this theory of yours, and it doesn't make sense, since
baptism is not part of Jewish life, and John the Baptist was a Jew.

Regardless of what rumors are perpetuated throughout ecclesiastical
history, there is no record of John's Baptism. There was no reason for
it, for he was the Bridegroom (Jno 3:29)and not part of the Bride.
Those that are baptised are part of the Bride of Christ.

He did, however, have authority from God to baptize: Lu 7:29