Robert Clark (US politician)

Infobox Congressman
name=Robert Clark


state=New York
district=8th
term=1819-03-04 - 1821-03-03
preceded=Dorrance Kirtland
succeeded=Richard McCarty
date of birth=1777-06-12
place of birth=
date of death=1837-10-01
place of death=Monroe, Michigan
spouse=Catherine Reid
profession=politician
religion=Presbyterian
party=Democratic-Republican|

Robert Clark (1777-06-12 - 1837-10-01) was a United States Representative from New York.

Clark was born in Washington County, New York, six months after his family arrived after emigrating from the Scottish Lowlands. His father died when he was age thirteen. He was tutored privately and then studied medicine in the office of his brother, Dr. Thomas Clark. He commenced a practice in Galway, New York in 1799. He also married Catherine Reid, when he was age 22 and his wife was barely 15. Although his mother-in-law offered to help establish himself in Lachine, Quebec, Canada, his wife's former home, Clark refused to settle in the dominions of the British Crown.

Clark remained in Galway and built a home where his first two children were born. After the house burned to the ground, Clark lived in temporary shelter provided by neighbor's, where his third child was born. He soon afterwards moved to Stamford, New York, and later settled near Delhi, New York, where he continued the practice of his profession.

Clark was a member of the New York State Assembly from 1812 to 1815. He was elected as a Democratic-Republican to the 16th United States Congress, serving 1819-03-04 - 1821-03-03. He was a delegate to the State constitutional convention in 1821.

In 1823, Clark moved to Monroe County, Michigan, and came to the tiny village of Monroe. Through influence of acquaintances, he was appointed the register of the land office for the second land district of Michigan Territory on 1823-05-26, in which capacity he served until 1831-03-25. His wife, with their eight children, the youngest age 22 months, followed him from New York as soon as convenient. The family at first lived in a small house in the village. Clark soon purchased a farm at the edge of the village which had once been part of a French estate. When the land office was moved to White Pigeon, Clark returned to the practice of medicine and was also interested in the scientific cultivation of fruits and grasses and the subject of drainage.

Concerning his political affiliations, Clark used to say "that he had never changed his principles, but found himself a member of the Whig Party without needing to change" (Wing p. 146). In New York, he was Free and Accepted Mason, but was not in harmony or fellowship with the lodge of Monroe. He was a Presbyterian, and when living in New York was a member and ruling elder of the Scotch Church. After a long and painful illness, Clark died on a Sabbath morning in Monroe, Michigan.

Clark's wife survived him for 22 years and was the mother of thirteen children, ten of whom grew to maturity.

References

*cite book |last=Wing |first=Talcott Enoch |title=History of Monroe County, Michigan |origyear=1890 |url=http://name.umdl.umich.edu/bad1008.0001.001 |accessdate=2007-07-12 |year=2005 |publisher=University of Michigan Library |location=Ann Arbor, Mich. |pages=pp. 144-145 |chapter= sv. Robert Clark |chapterurl=http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=micounty;cc=micounty;idno=bad1008.0001.001;size=l;frm=frameset;seq=164

Persondata
NAME=Clark, Robert
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=American politician
DATE OF BIRTH=June 12, 1777
PLACE OF BIRTH=Washington County, New York
DATE OF DEATH=October 1, 1837
PLACE OF DEATH=Monroe, Michigan