U.S. Congressman. He was educated at Eton College and immigrated to New Orleans in 1786. He was active in land speculation, banking, slave dealing, and the import and export of manufactured goods and food items including sugar and flour. New Orleans was under Spanish and then French control, so Clark made use of his relationships with members of the government to became a broker for U.S. businessmen. When Orleans Territory was organized Clark was appointed to its Legislative Council, but declined to serve. In 1805 and 1806, he was accused of taking part in Aaron Burr's alleged plot to sever New Orleans and surrounding territory from the United States, a charge Clark denied, with Clark being the first to accuse General James Wilkinson and others of lying about Burr's intent. In 1806, he was elected as Orleans Territory's Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives and served one partial term and one full term, December 1806 to March 1809. In 1807, Clark's dispute with Governor William Claiborne over control of territorial politics and culpability in the Burr affair ended in a duel, with Clark wounding Claiborne in the thigh. Clark was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1808 and returned to his business interests. Settling his estate, valued at over $35 million dollars by the 1860s, led to a series of landmark lawsuits that were not resolved until the 1870s.
U.S. Congressman. He was educated at Eton College and immigrated to New Orleans in 1786. He was active in land speculation, banking, slave dealing, and the import and export of manufactured goods and food items including sugar and flour. New Orleans was under Spanish and then French control, so Clark made use of his relationships with members of the government to became a broker for U.S. businessmen. When Orleans Territory was organized Clark was appointed to its Legislative Council, but declined to serve. In 1805 and 1806, he was accused of taking part in Aaron Burr's alleged plot to sever New Orleans and surrounding territory from the United States, a charge Clark denied, with Clark being the first to accuse General James Wilkinson and others of lying about Burr's intent. In 1806, he was elected as Orleans Territory's Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives and served one partial term and one full term, December 1806 to March 1809. In 1807, Clark's dispute with Governor William Claiborne over control of territorial politics and culpability in the Burr affair ended in a duel, with Clark wounding Claiborne in the thigh. Clark was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1808 and returned to his business interests. Settling his estate, valued at over $35 million dollars by the 1860s, led to a series of landmark lawsuits that were not resolved until the 1870s.
Bio by: Bill McKern
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