John Smith Clarke
Encyclopedia
John Smith Clarke was a British
lion tamer, politician
, poet
, newspaper editor and art
expert.
to a family whose father was ticket and poster writer in Heaton Park Road South. Clarke had a great interest in the circus, and by the age of seventeen would visit the lion tamer and enter the lions cage, something he continued to do for the remainder of his life. While mostly a writer, he also became a sailor
, and was able to travel the world, being involved in gun running to revolutionaries in Russia
, and once attempting to hitchhike home to Jarrow from Durban
.
. He edited the party newspaper, The Socialist
, from 1913 to 1914, and again for a period during World War I
, while also contributing to journals such as Forward and Plebs.
Clarke opposed World War I
, and wrote articles and poems decrying it. The Scottish Workers' Committee, successor of the Clyde Workers' Committee
, sent him as a delegate to the Second Congress of the Communist International. He attended the Congress, but was not made a voting delegate. While there, he cured Lenin's dog of an illness, and received a photograph of Lenin signed "To Comrade Clarke, Vladimir Oulianoff 6.8.1920". On his return to the UK, Clarke recounted his experiences in Pen Pictures of Russia under the `Red Terror`.
In the 1920s, Clarke joined the Independent Labour Party
(ILP) and was elected to the Glasgow Corporation. He was also made a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland
. He was elected as the Labour Party
MP for Glasgow Maryhill
at the 1929 UK general election, and spent much of his time in Parliament writing humorous epitaph
s for political opponents, including Ramsay MacDonald
. He lost his seat at the 1931 UK general election and left the ILP in 1932 when it disaffiliated from the Labour Party. In the same year, he was in the news for missing jury service after being stranded on Ailsa Craig
.
, a trustee of the Scottish National Portrait Gallery
and a board member of the Glasgow School of Art
. He also served as a magistrate
, and in 1941 was re-elected to the Glasgow Corporation, serving until 1951. In his spare time, Clarke served as President of the Burns
Federation, was consulted by museums for his knowledge of medieval weaponry, and compiled a Scottish encyclopaedia.
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
lion tamer, politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
, newspaper editor and art
Art
Art is the product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect....
expert.
Early years
John Smith Clarke was born in JarrowJarrow
Jarrow is a town in Tyne and Wear, England, located on the River Tyne, with a population of 27,526. From the middle of the 19th century until 1935, Jarrow was a centre for shipbuilding, and was the starting point of the Jarrow March against unemployment in 1936.-Foundation:The Angles re-occupied...
to a family whose father was ticket and poster writer in Heaton Park Road South. Clarke had a great interest in the circus, and by the age of seventeen would visit the lion tamer and enter the lions cage, something he continued to do for the remainder of his life. While mostly a writer, he also became a sailor
Sailor
A sailor, mariner, or seaman is a person who navigates water-borne vessels or assists in their operation, maintenance, or service. The term can apply to professional mariners, military personnel, and recreational sailors as well as a plethora of other uses...
, and was able to travel the world, being involved in gun running to revolutionaries in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, and once attempting to hitchhike home to Jarrow from Durban
Durban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
.
Political career
Clarke also became a socialist, and joined the Socialist Labour PartySocialist Labour Party (UK, 1903)
The Socialist Labour Party was a socialist political party in the United Kingdom. It was established in 1903 as a splinter from the Social Democratic Federation by James Connolly, Neil Maclean and SDF members impressed with the politics of the American socialist Daniel De Leon, a Marxist...
. He edited the party newspaper, The Socialist
The Socialist (SLP newspaper)
The Socialist was the newspaper of the Socialist Labour Party , a De Leonist organisation in Britain founded in 1903.The newspaper was set up by James Connolly in 1901. He was its first editor, after which George Yates took over. During Yates' editorship, it was the focus of the De Leonists...
, from 1913 to 1914, and again for a period during 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...
, while also contributing to journals such as Forward and Plebs.
Clarke opposed 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...
, and wrote articles and poems decrying it. The Scottish Workers' Committee, successor of the Clyde Workers' Committee
Clyde Workers' Committee
The Clyde Workers Committee was formed to campaign against the Munitions Act. The leader of the CWC was Willie Gallacher, who was jailed under the Defense of the Realm Act together with John Muir for an article in the CWC journal The Worker criticising World War I.-External links:**...
, sent him as a delegate to the Second Congress of the Communist International. He attended the Congress, but was not made a voting delegate. While there, he cured Lenin's dog of an illness, and received a photograph of Lenin signed "To Comrade Clarke, Vladimir Oulianoff 6.8.1920". On his return to the UK, Clarke recounted his experiences in Pen Pictures of Russia under the `Red Terror`.
In the 1920s, Clarke joined the Independent Labour Party
Independent Labour Party
The Independent Labour Party was a socialist political party in Britain established in 1893. The ILP was affiliated to the Labour Party from 1906 to 1932, when it voted to leave...
(ILP) and was elected to the Glasgow Corporation. He was also made a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland
Society of Antiquaries of Scotland
The Society of Antiquaries of Scotland is the senior antiquarian body in Scotland, with its headquarters in the National Museum, Chambers Street, Edinburgh...
. He was elected as the Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
MP for Glasgow Maryhill
Glasgow Maryhill (UK Parliament constituency)
Glasgow Maryhill was a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1918 until 2005 when it was subsumed into the new Glasgow North and Glasgow North East constituencies...
at the 1929 UK general election, and spent much of his time in Parliament writing humorous epitaph
Epitaph
An epitaph is a short text honoring a deceased person, strictly speaking that is inscribed on their tombstone or plaque, but also used figuratively. Some are specified by the dead person beforehand, others chosen by those responsible for the burial...
s for political opponents, including Ramsay MacDonald
Ramsay MacDonald
James Ramsay MacDonald, PC, FRS was a British politician who was the first ever Labour Prime Minister, leading a minority government for two terms....
. He lost his seat at the 1931 UK general election and left the ILP in 1932 when it disaffiliated from the Labour Party. In the same year, he was in the news for missing jury service after being stranded on Ailsa Craig
Ailsa Craig
Ailsa Craig is an island of 219.69 acres in the outer Firth of Clyde, Scotland where blue hone granite was quarried to make curling stones. "Ailsa" is pronounced "ale-sa", with the first syllable stressed...
.
Later life
During the 1930s, Clarke became more involved with the arts, with a particular interest in Renaissance art. He was a member of the Royal Fine Art Commission for ScotlandRoyal Fine Art Commission for Scotland
The Royal Fine Art Commission for Scotland was a Scottish public body.It was appointed in 1927 "to enquire into such questions of public amenity or of artistic importance relating to Scotland as may be referred to them by any of our Departments of State and to report thereon to such Departments;...
, a trustee of the Scottish National Portrait Gallery
Scottish National Portrait Gallery
The Scottish National Portrait Gallery is an art gallery on Queen Street, Edinburgh, Scotland. It holds the national collections of portraits, all of which are of, but not necessarily by, Scots. In addition it also holds the Scottish National Photography Collection...
and a board member of the Glasgow School of Art
Glasgow School of Art
Glasgow School of Art is one of only two independent art schools in Scotland, situated in the Garnethill area of Glasgow.-History:It was founded in 1845 as the Glasgow Government School of Design. In 1853, it changed its name to The Glasgow School of Art. Initially it was located at 12 Ingram...
. He also served as a magistrate
Magistrate
A magistrate is an officer of the state; in modern usage the term usually refers to a judge or prosecutor. This was not always the case; in ancient Rome, a magistratus was one of the highest government officers and possessed both judicial and executive powers. Today, in common law systems, a...
, and in 1941 was re-elected to the Glasgow Corporation, serving until 1951. In his spare time, Clarke served as President of the Burns
Robert Burns
Robert Burns was a Scottish poet and a lyricist. He is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland, and is celebrated worldwide...
Federation, was consulted by museums for his knowledge of medieval weaponry, and compiled a Scottish encyclopaedia.
Further reading
- Ray Challinor, John S. Clarke: Parliamentarian, Poet, Lion-Tamer. London: Pluto Press, 1977.
- Raymond Challinor, The Origins of British Bolshevism. London: Croom Helm, 1977.
External links
- Works by or about John Smith Clarke at Internet ArchiveInternet ArchiveThe Internet Archive is a non-profit digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It offers permanent storage and access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, music, moving images, and nearly 3 million public domain books. The Internet Archive...
(scanned books original editions color illustrated)