Charles Kirk Clarke
Encyclopedia
Charles Kirk Clarke was a psychiatrist
who was influential in Canadian
politics.
in 1879 and went on to found the Canadian National Committee for Mental Hygiene (now the Canadian Mental Health Association
) in 1914 with Dr. Clarence Hincks.
As Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at University of Toronto, he oversaw creation of the Department of Psychiatry, and development of the medical school
.
Clarke first practised psychiatry at the 999 Queen Street institution in Toronto
. In 1880, then took a post at the Hamilton
asylum.
Dr. Clarke was a student and brother-in-law of Dr. Joseph Workman, Superintendent of the Toronto Asylum. Clarke was an early proponents of eugenics
, emphasizing the importance of restrictive laws that would limit the immigration
and marriage
of the "mentally defective." To them, such laws seemed necessary to stem the explosive growth of state and provincial mental asylums where foreign-born patients made up more than 50 percent of the hospital population. Further, the growth of hereditarian
views in science supported eugenic proposals; psychiatry's desire for greater respectability in the medical profession made eugenic "science" attractive. By 1905, Clarke had abandoned the movement, and many of the other leading psychiatrists would follow suit by the end of World War I
, when it was clear that eugenic measures were not having the desired effects.
He joined his other brother-in-law, Dr. William Metcalfe at the Rockwood Hospital for the Insane, the psychiatric hospital in Kingston
in 1881 and began a series of reforms in the care of the insane. One of these was freeing patients from confinement. On August 13 1885 a paranoid patient attacked them both and killed Dr. Metcalfe. Dr. Clarke survived and succeeded his brother-in-law as Medical superintendent of facility. Dr. Clarke carried on in Kingston until 1905 when he succeeded Dr. Daniel Clark as superintendent of the Toronto Asylum. In 1911 he resigned from government service and was appointed superintendent of the Toronto General Hospital
.
of Psychiatry in Toronto, Canada is named in his honour.
Psychiatrist
A psychiatrist is a physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. All psychiatrists are trained in diagnostic evaluation and in psychotherapy...
who was influential in Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
politics.
Career
He graduated from University of TorontoUniversity of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
in 1879 and went on to found the Canadian National Committee for Mental Hygiene (now the Canadian Mental Health Association
Canadian Mental Health Association
The Canadian Mental Health Association was founded on January 26, 1918 by Dr. Clarence M. Hincks and Clifford W. Beers. Originally named the Canadian National Committee for Mental Hygiene, it is one of the oldest voluntary health organizations still operating in Canada.Each year, CMHA divisions...
) in 1914 with Dr. Clarence Hincks.
As Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at University of Toronto, he oversaw creation of the Department of Psychiatry, and development of the medical school
Medical school
A medical school is a tertiary educational institution—or part of such an institution—that teaches medicine. Degree programs offered at medical schools often include Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Bachelor/Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Philosophy, master's degree, or other post-secondary...
.
Clarke first practised psychiatry at the 999 Queen Street institution in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. In 1880, then took a post at the Hamilton
Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
asylum.
Dr. Clarke was a student and brother-in-law of Dr. Joseph Workman, Superintendent of the Toronto Asylum. Clarke was an early proponents of eugenics
Eugenics
Eugenics is the "applied science or the bio-social movement which advocates the use of practices aimed at improving the genetic composition of a population", usually referring to human populations. The origins of the concept of eugenics began with certain interpretations of Mendelian inheritance,...
, emphasizing the importance of restrictive laws that would limit the immigration
Immigration
Immigration is the act of foreigners passing or coming into a country for the purpose of permanent residence...
and marriage
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
of the "mentally defective." To them, such laws seemed necessary to stem the explosive growth of state and provincial mental asylums where foreign-born patients made up more than 50 percent of the hospital population. Further, the growth of hereditarian
Hereditarianism
Hereditarianism is the doctrine or school of thought that heredity plays a significant role in determining human nature and character traits, such as intelligence and personality. Hereditarians believe in the power of genetics to explain human character traits and solve human social and political...
views in science supported eugenic proposals; psychiatry's desire for greater respectability in the medical profession made eugenic "science" attractive. By 1905, Clarke had abandoned the movement, and many of the other leading psychiatrists would follow suit by the end of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, when it was clear that eugenic measures were not having the desired effects.
He joined his other brother-in-law, Dr. William Metcalfe at the Rockwood Hospital for the Insane, the psychiatric hospital in Kingston
Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario is a Canadian city located in Eastern Ontario where the St. Lawrence River flows out of Lake Ontario. Originally a First Nations settlement called "Katarowki," , growing European exploration in the 17th Century made it an important trading post...
in 1881 and began a series of reforms in the care of the insane. One of these was freeing patients from confinement. On August 13 1885 a paranoid patient attacked them both and killed Dr. Metcalfe. Dr. Clarke survived and succeeded his brother-in-law as Medical superintendent of facility. Dr. Clarke carried on in Kingston until 1905 when he succeeded Dr. Daniel Clark as superintendent of the Toronto Asylum. In 1911 he resigned from government service and was appointed superintendent of the Toronto General Hospital
Toronto General Hospital
The Toronto General Hospital , is a part of the University Health Network, and a major teaching hospital in downtown Toronto, Ontario. It is located in the Discovery District, directly north of the Hospital for Sick Children, across Gerrard Street West, and east of Princess Margaret Hospital and...
.
End of life
Clarke became ill in the autumn of 1923 and died in Toronto early the next year. A headline in the Toronto Sunday World of March 23 1924 read "Canada owes immeasurable debt to Dr. C.K. Clarke who helped to lift the shadow of misery and hopelessness from insane asylums". The Clarke InstituteCentre for Addiction and Mental Health
The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health is a consortium of mental health clinics at several sites in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its name in French is Centre de toxicomanie et de santé mentale...
of Psychiatry in Toronto, Canada is named in his honour.