James Clark (Kentucky politician)

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James Clark
James Turner Morehead
Succeeded byCharles A. Wickliffe
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Kentucky's 3rd district
In office
August 1, 1825 – March 3, 1831
Preceded byHenry Clay
Succeeded byChilton Allan
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Kentucky's 1st district
In office
March 4, 1813 – April 8, 1816
Preceded byAnthony New
Succeeded byThomas Fletcher
Member of the Kentucky House of Representatives
In office
1807–1808
Personal details
Born(1779-01-16)January 16, 1779
Holly Rood
ProfessionLawyer

James Clark (January 16, 1779 – August 27, 1839) was a 19th-century American politician who served in all three branches of Kentucky's government and in the U.S. House of Representatives. His political career began in the Kentucky House of Representatives in 1807. In 1810, he was appointed to the Kentucky Court of Appeals, where he served for two years before resigning to pursue a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. He served two terms in that body, resigning in 1816.

Clark accepted an appointment to the

Old Court-New Court controversy
.

In 1825, Clark was chosen to fill the congressional seat vacated by

Holly Rood, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1974.

Early life and family

James Clark was born to Robert and Susannah (Henderson) Clark on January 16, 1779, near the

St. Louis, Missouri looking for a place to open his practice, but finding none that suited him, he returned to Kentucky and commenced practice in Winchester.[4]

Clark married Susan Forsythe on July 2, 1809, and the couple had four children.[5][6] Susan Clark died in 1825.[5] On March 3, 1829, James Clark married a widow named Margaret Buckner Thornton in Washington, D.C.[5] Clark's second wife died August 15, 1836, just days after her husband was elected governor.[5]

Political career

Clark was elected to two consecutive terms in the

Democratic-Republican to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1812.[1] He took a leave of absence on April 18, 1816, and by August 1816, had resigned his seat to accept an appointment as a circuit court judge.[1][7]

Ruling in Williams v. Blair

From 1817 to 1824, Clark served on the

U.S. Constitution.[8] This decision was in keeping with the recent Supreme Court ruling in Dartmouth College v. Woodward.[8]

Clark's ruling drew a resolution of condemnation from the Kentucky General Assembly.

Old Court-New Court controversy, wherein the legislature attempted to abolish the Court of Appeals and replace it with a more sympathetic court.[7]

In 1825, Clark was elected to fill the U.S. House seat left vacant by the elevation of Henry Clay to Secretary of State.[9] He was twice re-elected, and chaired the Committee on Territories.[1] He refused re-nomination in 1831.[5]

Clark was then elected to the

Speaker of the Senate, and presided in Morehead's absence.[5]

Governor of Kentucky

Clark helped organize the

Democrat Matthew Flournoy 38,587 to 30,491.[5] In his first address to the legislature, he outlined an ambitious agenda of reforms, including the establishing a public school system, strengthening the office of state auditor, and combating an increase in crime.[6] Believing that banks should be held to their responsibilities, he insisted that the state banks not suspend specie payments.[10] A slave owner himself,[11] he strongly believed in the rights of slave owners, and encouraged Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois to cooperate in returning escaped slaves.[10]

The legislature heeded some of Clark's message. They added a second auditor in the office of the state auditor, and gave greater discretion to the state's sinking fund commission.[6] They created a state board of education and the office of state superintendent.[6] They also created county school commissioners in every county.[12] In response to his remarks on slave property, the legislature enacted laws that raised the reward for apprehending a fugitive slave and made it illegal for stagecoach owners to allow fugitive slaves to use their coaches to escape.[12]

However, they refused to restrict the publication and spread of abolitionist propaganda in the state, as Clark had requested, and they ignored most of his recommendations in other areas.[6] Clark financed internal improvements in the state through the sale of bonds.[10]

Death

Clark died in office on August 27, 1839.

his home in Winchester, Kentucky.[1] The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 13, 1974.[13]

See also

  • Governor Clark House
  • Old Court-New Court controversy

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Congressional Bio
  2. ^ a b Encyclopedia of Kentucky, p. 77
  3. ^ Allen, p. 86
  4. ^ Allen, pp. 96–97
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Powell, p. 36
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h Harrison, p. 196
  7. ^ a b c d e Levin, p. 68
  8. ^ a b c Howard, p. 48
  9. ^ Allen, p. 97
  10. ^ a b c Encyclopedia of Kentucky, p. 78
  11. ^ "Congress slaveowners", The Washington Post, January 13, 2022, retrieved July 6, 2022
  12. ^ a b Howard, p. 49
  13. ^ NRHP: Gov. Clark House

Bibliography

Further reading

  • Morton, Jennie C. (September 1904). "Governor James Clark". The Register of the Kentucky Historical Society. 2 (6): 9–12.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to James Clark (Kentucky politician).
Party political offices
First Whig nominee for Governor of Kentucky
1836 		Succeeded by
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Kentucky's 1st congressional district
1813–1816 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Kentucky's 3rd congressional district
1825–1831 		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by
James Morehead
 Governor of Kentucky
1836–1839 		Succeeded by

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