George Johnson Clarke
Encyclopedia
George Johnson Clarke, KC
(October 10, 1857 – February 26, 1917) was a New Brunswick
lawyer, journalist and politician.
A native of St. Andrews, New Brunswick
, George Clarke taught school for a time in Charlotte County
before studying law. He was called to the bar in 1885 and set up practice in St. Stephen
. He was also editor
of the Saint Croix Courier
newspaper in St. Stephen. In 1907, he was named King's Counsel.
In 1891, Clarke was an unsuccessful candidate in the Charlotte riding
for a seat in the Canadian House of Commons
. He served as mayor of St. Stephen from 1898 to 1899 and was Warden of Charlotte County. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick
for Charlotte County in 1903 and served as Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick
from 1909 to 1914. On January 22, 1914 Clarke was appointed by Premier James K. Flemming
to the province's Executive Council
as Attorney General
and Commissioner of Provincial Hospitals. He served until December 17 of that year when he was appointed Minister of Lands and Mines
, a position he held until February 1, 1917.
Highly regarded for his integrity, George Clarke became the 15th Premier
in March 1914 when his predecessor, James Kidd Flemming
, was forced to resign as a result of a scandal. In addition to his responsibilities as Premier, Clarke also served as the Minister of Lands and Mines
during his entire administration.
George Clarke was in very poor health during his time in office and his administration's accomplishments were limited. Because of the health problems, he stepped down as premier on February 1, 1917, handing over the reins of power to James Alexander Murray
just before the general election. Clarke had been selected for appointment as the province's Lieutenant Governor but was not able to accept the post due to poor health. Clarke died in St. Stephen a few weeks later.
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
(October 10, 1857 – February 26, 1917) was a New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
lawyer, journalist and politician.
A native of St. Andrews, New Brunswick
St. Andrews, New Brunswick
St. Andrews is a Canadian town in Charlotte County, New Brunswick.It is sometimes referred to in tourism marketing by its unofficial nickname "St. Andrews-by-the-sea".-Geography:St...
, George Clarke taught school for a time in Charlotte County
Charlotte County, New Brunswick
Charlotte County is located in the southwestern portion of New Brunswick, Canada.In most of the county, fishing and aquaculture dominate the local economy, although the town of St. Andrews is a tourist mecca and St...
before studying law. He was called to the bar in 1885 and set up practice in St. Stephen
St. Stephen, New Brunswick
St. Stephen is a Canadian town in Charlotte County, New Brunswick, situated on the east bank of the St. Croix River at .-Climate:...
. He was also editor
Managing editor
A managing editor is a senior member of a publication's management team.In the United States, a managing editor oversees and coordinates the publication's editorial activities...
of the Saint Croix Courier
Saint Croix Courier
The Saint Croix Courier is a weekly newspaper published by the St. Croix Printing & Publishing Company, Limited in St. Stephen, New Brunswick, Canada. It was founded by David Main in October 1865....
newspaper in St. Stephen. In 1907, he was named King's Counsel.
In 1891, Clarke was an unsuccessful candidate in the Charlotte riding
New Brunswick Southwest
Charlotte redirects here, for the provincial electoral district, see Charlotte New Brunswick Southwest is a federal electoral district in New Brunswick, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 2004...
for a seat in the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
. He served as mayor of St. Stephen from 1898 to 1899 and was Warden of Charlotte County. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick
Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick
The Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick is located in Fredericton. It was established de jure when the colony was created in 1784, but only came in to session in 1786 following the first elections in late 1785. Until 1891, it was the lower house in a bicameral legislature when its upper house...
for Charlotte County in 1903 and served as Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick
Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick
The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick is the presiding officer of the provincial legislature. Since 1994 the position has been elected by MLAs using a secret ballot. Previously, the Speaker had been appointed by motion of the house, in practice moved by the Premier of New...
from 1909 to 1914. On January 22, 1914 Clarke was appointed by Premier James K. Flemming
James Kidd Flemming
James Kidd Flemming was a businessman and politician in New Brunswick, Canada.Flemming was a school teacher and lumberman before entering politics and serving as Provincial Secretary-Treasurer from 1908 to 1911 and Minister of Lands and Mines from 1911-1914. He succeeded Douglas Hazen as the...
to the province's Executive Council
Executive Council of New Brunswick
The Executive Council of New Brunswick is the cabinet of that Canadian province....
as Attorney General
Office of the Attorney General (New Brunswick)
The Office of the Attorney General is a part of the Government of New Brunswick. It is charged providing legal services to all departments and agencies of the government....
and Commissioner of Provincial Hospitals. He served until December 17 of that year when he was appointed Minister of Lands and Mines
Department of Natural Resources (New Brunswick)
The Department of Natural Resources is a department in the Government of New Brunswick, Canada. It is responsible for management of the Province's forests including timber utilization, trail management, insect and disease protection including spruce budworm and gypsy moth, fire protection,...
, a position he held until February 1, 1917.
Highly regarded for his integrity, George Clarke became the 15th Premier
Premier of New Brunswick
The Premier of New Brunswick is the first minister for the Canadian province of New Brunswick. They are the province's head of government and de facto chief executive....
in March 1914 when his predecessor, James Kidd Flemming
James Kidd Flemming
James Kidd Flemming was a businessman and politician in New Brunswick, Canada.Flemming was a school teacher and lumberman before entering politics and serving as Provincial Secretary-Treasurer from 1908 to 1911 and Minister of Lands and Mines from 1911-1914. He succeeded Douglas Hazen as the...
, was forced to resign as a result of a scandal. In addition to his responsibilities as Premier, Clarke also served as the Minister of Lands and Mines
Department of Natural Resources (New Brunswick)
The Department of Natural Resources is a department in the Government of New Brunswick, Canada. It is responsible for management of the Province's forests including timber utilization, trail management, insect and disease protection including spruce budworm and gypsy moth, fire protection,...
during his entire administration.
George Clarke was in very poor health during his time in office and his administration's accomplishments were limited. Because of the health problems, he stepped down as premier on February 1, 1917, handing over the reins of power to James Alexander Murray
James Alexander Murray
James Alexander Murray was a Conservative politician and the 16th Premier of New Brunswick. Murray was first elected to the legislature in 1908 and served as Minister of Agriculture before becoming Premier in 1917 only to have his government defeated in the general election weeks later.-External...
just before the general election. Clarke had been selected for appointment as the province's Lieutenant Governor but was not able to accept the post due to poor health. Clarke died in St. Stephen a few weeks later.
Further reading
- Arthur T. Doyle, Front Benches and Back Rooms: A story of corruption, muckraking, raw partisanship and political intrigue in New Brunswick, Toronto: Green Tree Publishing, 1976.