Clarence D. Clark
Encyclopedia
Clarence Don Clark was a teacher
, lawyer
, and politician
from New York
who participated in the constitutional convention
for Wyoming
's statehood and was one of that state's first congressmen.
at Iowa City. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1874. He subsequently both was a teacher and practiced law in Manchester, Iowa
. In 1881, he moved to Evanston, Wyoming
and continued to practice law before becoming the county attorney
of Uinta County, a job he held between 1882 and 1884.
In 1889, he began his political career as a delegate to the Wyoming constitutional convention. he subsequently ran for the United States House of Representatives
and became one of the new state's first representatives. He remained in office two terms, from 1890 to 1893, before losing the 1892 election. He was elected as a United States Senator in a special election to fill a vacancy in 1895 and was re-elected to that seat three times and served until 1917.
After losing the election in 1916, he resumed the practice of law in Washington, D.C.
, but was appointed as a member of the International Joint Commission
in 1919. He served as its chairman from 1923 until his retirement in 1929. After retirement, he moved back to Evanston, Wyoming until his death in 1930.
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
, lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
who participated in the constitutional convention
Constitutional convention (political meeting)
A constitutional convention is now a gathering for the purpose of writing a new constitution or revising an existing constitution. A general constitutional convention is called to create the first constitution of a political unit or to entirely replace an existing constitution...
for Wyoming
Wyoming
Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
's statehood and was one of that state's first congressmen.
Biography
He was born in Sandy Creek, New York and attended the University of IowaUniversity of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
at Iowa City. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1874. He subsequently both was a teacher and practiced law in Manchester, Iowa
Manchester, Iowa
Manchester is a city in Delaware County, Iowa, United States. The population was 5,257 at the 2000 census. As of the 2005 population estimates, Manchester's population was 5,052...
. In 1881, he moved to Evanston, Wyoming
Evanston, Wyoming
Evanston is a city in Uinta County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 12,359 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Uinta County.-Geography:Evanston is located at...
and continued to practice law before becoming the county attorney
County attorney
A county attorney in many areas of the United States is the chief legal officer for a county or local judicial district. It is usually an elected position...
of Uinta County, a job he held between 1882 and 1884.
In 1889, he began his political career as a delegate to the Wyoming constitutional convention. he subsequently ran for the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
and became one of the new state's first representatives. He remained in office two terms, from 1890 to 1893, before losing the 1892 election. He was elected as a United States Senator in a special election to fill a vacancy in 1895 and was re-elected to that seat three times and served until 1917.
After losing the election in 1916, he resumed the practice of law in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, but was appointed as a member of the International Joint Commission
International Joint Commission
The International Joint Commission is an independent binational organization established by the United States and Canada under the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909.The Commission has responsibilities related to the following treaties and agreements:...
in 1919. He served as its chairman from 1923 until his retirement in 1929. After retirement, he moved back to Evanston, Wyoming until his death in 1930.