James Clark
JAMES CLARK, was born January 16, 1779 in Bedford County, VA to Robert and Susannah Henderson Clark. In 1794 the Clark family moved to Clark County, KY. Clark was educated by private tutors and Dr. James Blythe who later became a professor at Transylvania University. He then went to Pisgah Academy in Woodford County. Clark studied law with his brother in VA. He was admitted to the bar in 1797. Clark traveled to various states searching for a place to open a practice but returned to KY and set up his practice in Winchester, KY.
Clark’s political career began in 1807 when he was elected to the KY House of Representatives and served two terms. In 1810, he was appointed to the KY Court of Appeals until 1812. He was elected to the US House of Representatives and served from 1812 to 1816. He resigned to accept an appointment as a circuit court judge in 1817.
While serving as a circuit court judge he rendered a major decision in Williams v. Blair in 1822. He declared a law unconstitutional that allowed debtors to escape bankruptcy by imposing a moratorium on their debts. Clark’s ruling was condemned by the KY General Assembly and he was summoned to appear before the legislature. He responded by writing and the legislature then attempted to remove him from office. The vote fell short of the needed majority. Clark’s decision was upheld by the Court of Appeals.
Clark was elected to the US House seat left vacant when Henry Clay became Secretary of state. He served from 1825 to 1831. Clark was then elected to the state Senate and served from 1832 to 1835 and was Speaker of the Senate in the place of the lieutenant governor.
Clark helped to organize the Whig Party in KY. As a reward, he was chosen as the party’s nominee for governor in 1836. He won the election. In his first address to the legislature he presented an ambitious agenda of reforms. Among those items were:
strengthen the auditor’s office with sound financing,
Change the criminal code to crack down on crime,
Decrease the number of fugitive slaves,
Public school system in every county.
The general assembly approved a state board of education, state superintendent for public education and county school commissioners. They added a second auditor to the office of state auditor. The assembly enacted laws and raised the rewards in response to the apprehension of slaves. However, they refused to restrict the spread of abolitionist publications. Clark was successful in financing internal improvements in the state through the sale of bonds.
Clark died in office August 27, 1839. He was buried in Winchester.
James Clark was the 12th governor of KY. Among his accomplishments as governor was the establishment of the public school system in KY. However, his stance on slavery diminished his leadership.
