James West Clark
Encyclopedia
James West Clark was a United States Representative from North Carolina
. Born in Bertie County
to Hannah and Christopher Clark, a successful sea captain and import/export merchant. James Clark graduated from Princeton College in 1797, was a member of the State House of Commons
in 1802, 1803 and 1811, and was a presidential elector on the Madison
ticket in 1812. He was a member of the North Carolina Senate
from 1812 to 1814 and was elected as a Republican to the Fourteenth Congress, serving from March 4, 1815, to March 3, 1817. Clark was appointed chief clerk of the Navy Department by Secretary John Branch
and served from 1829 to 1831. He resigned his appointment in protest (as did John Branch) as a result of the Petticoat affair
(or Peggy Eaton affair), which rocked Washington society and the Jackson administration.
In private life, Clark was a planter, businessman and slave owner. He owned several hundred acres of lands in North Carolina and at least 5000 acres (20.2 km²) in Dyer County, Tennessee. In 1835 he moved the bulk of his male slaves to Livingston, Alabama
, where he made a substantial profit in the slave hire business. Clark's son, Henry Toole Clark
, helped his father manage the family plantations and their local business interests, which included a grist mill and operating a canal. His son would later become governor of North Carolina during the Civil War from 1861 to 1862.
He died at home in Tarboro, North Carolina
, at the age of 64.
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. Born in Bertie County
Bertie County, North Carolina
-External links:**...
to Hannah and Christopher Clark, a successful sea captain and import/export merchant. James Clark graduated from Princeton College in 1797, was a member of the State House of Commons
North Carolina General Assembly
The North Carolina General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of North Carolina. The General Assembly drafts and legislates the state laws of North Carolina, also known as the General Statutes...
in 1802, 1803 and 1811, and was a presidential elector on the Madison
James Madison
James Madison, Jr. was an American statesman and political theorist. He was the fourth President of the United States and is hailed as the “Father of the Constitution” for being the primary author of the United States Constitution and at first an opponent of, and then a key author of the United...
ticket in 1812. He was a member of the North Carolina Senate
North Carolina Senate
The North Carolina Senate is one of the two houses of the North Carolina General Assembly.Its prerogatives and powers are similar to those of the other house, the House of Representatives. Its members do, however, represent districts that are larger than those of their colleagues in the House. The...
from 1812 to 1814 and was elected as a Republican to the Fourteenth Congress, serving from March 4, 1815, to March 3, 1817. Clark was appointed chief clerk of the Navy Department by Secretary John Branch
John Branch
John Branch, Jr. served as U.S. Senator, Secretary of the Navy, the 19th Governor of the state of North Carolina, and was the sixth and last territorial governor of Florida....
and served from 1829 to 1831. He resigned his appointment in protest (as did John Branch) as a result of the Petticoat affair
Petticoat Affair
The Petticoat affair was an 1830–1831 U.S. scandal involving members of President Andrew Jackson's Cabinet and their wives. Although it started over a private matter, it affected the political careers of several men and resulted in the informal "Kitchen Cabinet"...
(or Peggy Eaton affair), which rocked Washington society and the Jackson administration.
In private life, Clark was a planter, businessman and slave owner. He owned several hundred acres of lands in North Carolina and at least 5000 acres (20.2 km²) in Dyer County, Tennessee. In 1835 he moved the bulk of his male slaves to Livingston, Alabama
Livingston, Alabama
Livingston is a city in Sumter County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 3,297. The city is the county seat of Sumter County.-Geography:Livingston is located at .According to the U.S...
, where he made a substantial profit in the slave hire business. Clark's son, Henry Toole Clark
Henry Toole Clark
Henry Toole Clark was the 36th Governor of the U.S. state of North Carolina from 1861 to 1862 during the American Civil War....
, helped his father manage the family plantations and their local business interests, which included a grist mill and operating a canal. His son would later become governor of North Carolina during the Civil War from 1861 to 1862.
He died at home in Tarboro, North Carolina
Tarboro, North Carolina
Tarboro is a city located in Edgecombe County, North Carolina. It is part of the Rocky Mount, North Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the town had a total population of 13,121. It is the county seat of Edgecombe County. Tarboro is located in North Carolina's Inner Banks region...
, at the age of 64.