Governor of Kentucky, U.S. Congressman, Judge. A native of Virginia, his family moved to Clark County, Kentucky in 1794. He attended the Pisgah Academy, studied law, and became an attorney in Winchester, Kentucky. Clark became a member of the Kentucky legislature in 1807 and 1808 and was appointed as a Judge of the Court of Appeals in 1810. Elected as a Democratic Republican to represent Kentucky in the United States House of Representatives, he served from 1813 until his resignation in 1816. He became a Kentucky Circuit Court Judge from 1817 to 1824 and was reelected to Congress as a member of the Adams Party to fill a vacancy caused by the resignation of Henry Clay on August 1, 1825. He was nearly removed from the bench after rendering an unpopular decision that set off a major dispute in the court system between the policies of the old and new court. He was reelected as an Anti-Jacksonian in 1826 and was the chairman on the Committee of Territories. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1830 and became a member of the Kentucky State Senate from 1831 to 1835. Elected as a Whig, he became the 12th Governor of Kentucky, and served from 1836 until his death in 1839. While Governor, he oversaw the creation of the State Board of Education and the establishment of a public school system. He also enacted harsher fugitive slave laws.
Governor of Kentucky, U.S. Congressman, Judge. A native of Virginia, his family moved to Clark County, Kentucky in 1794. He attended the Pisgah Academy, studied law, and became an attorney in Winchester, Kentucky. Clark became a member of the Kentucky legislature in 1807 and 1808 and was appointed as a Judge of the Court of Appeals in 1810. Elected as a Democratic Republican to represent Kentucky in the United States House of Representatives, he served from 1813 until his resignation in 1816. He became a Kentucky Circuit Court Judge from 1817 to 1824 and was reelected to Congress as a member of the Adams Party to fill a vacancy caused by the resignation of Henry Clay on August 1, 1825. He was nearly removed from the bench after rendering an unpopular decision that set off a major dispute in the court system between the policies of the old and new court. He was reelected as an Anti-Jacksonian in 1826 and was the chairman on the Committee of Territories. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1830 and became a member of the Kentucky State Senate from 1831 to 1835. Elected as a Whig, he became the 12th Governor of Kentucky, and served from 1836 until his death in 1839. While Governor, he oversaw the creation of the State Board of Education and the establishment of a public school system. He also enacted harsher fugitive slave laws.
Bio by: K Guy
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