Myron Holley Clark | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 19th Governor of New York | |
| In office January 1, 1855 – December 31, 1856 | |
| Lieutenant | Henry Jarvis Raymond |
| Preceded by | Horatio Seymour |
| Succeeded by | John Alsop King |
| Member of theNew York State Assembly from the 29th district | |
| In office January 1, 1852 – December 31, 1854 | |
| Preceded by | Charles Colt |
| Succeeded by | William H. Goodwin |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1806-10-23)October 23, 1806 |
| Died | August 23, 1892(1892-08-23) (aged 85) |
| Party | Whig |
| Spouse | Zilpha Watkins |
| Relations | Clark Williams (grandson) |
| Children | Mary Clark Thompson |
Myron Holley Clark (October 23, 1806 – August 23, 1892) was anAmerican politician fromNew York. He served as the 19thGovernor of New York from 1855 to 1856.
Clark was born inNaples,Ontario County, New York on October 23, 1806.[1] He was the eldest son of Maj. Joseph Clark (1782–1840) and Mary (née Sutton) Clark (1782–1865). His grandfather, Col. William Clark, had migrated to Ontario County fromBerkshire County, Massachusetts, in 1790 after theAmerican Revolution.[2]
His education was limited and was in the common schools of New York.[1]
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He served in the state's militia as alieutenant colonel and then entered politics, first serving as President of the then-village ofCanandaigua, New York, and eventually becomingSheriff of Ontario County, New York.
He was a member of theNew York State Senate (29th D.) from 1852 to 1854, sitting in the75th,76th and77th New York State Legislatures. At theNew York state election, 1854,[3] he was nominated as theWhig candidate,[4] and was electedGovernor of New York in the closest gubernatorial election in New York State history. He served as Governor from January 1, 1855, to December 31, 1856.
As Governor, Clark was noted for his meddling with militia appointments, causing the resignation of the stateAdjutant GeneralJohn Watts de Peyster.[citation needed] In 1862, PresidentAbraham Lincoln appointed Clark the first Collector of Internal Revenue of in the Ontario County district.[5]
Clark made several attempts to effectprohibition in the state and signed a prohibition law while governor, but the law was declaredunconstitutional by theNew York Court of Appeals. His steadfast advocating of temperance led to his nomination on theProhibition ticket to run again for Governor at theNew York state election, 1874.[6] He finished in third place, behind DemocratSamuel J. Tilden and the incumbent Republican GovernorJohn Adams Dix.[7]
In 1830 Clark was married to Zilpha Watkins (1806–1877), a daughter of Andrew Watkins and Abigail (née Stanley) Watkins.[8] Together, they were the parents of five children, one son and four daughters, including:[1]
Clark died inCanandaigua, New York on August 23, 1892. He is interred atWoodlawn Cemetery in Canandaigua.[5]
As a memorial to Clark, his daughterMary presented a scenic and geologically significant tract of land to New York State in 1915 that is now part ofClark Reservation State Park. ComptrollerClark Williams was his grandson.
| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Whig nominee forGovernor of New York 1854 | Succeeded by None |
| New York State Senate | ||
| Preceded by | New York State Senate 29th District 1852–1854 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Governor of New York 1855–1856 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
