Beverly Clarke | |
|---|---|
 | |
| U.S. Minister to Guatemala | |
| In office July 13, 1858 – March 17, 1860 | |
| President | James Buchanan |
| Preceded by | John L. Marling |
| Succeeded by | Elisha Oscar Crosby |
| U.S. Minister to Honduras | |
| In office August 10, 1858 – March 17, 1860 | |
| President | James Buchanan |
| Preceded by | Solon Borland |
| Succeeded by | James R. Partridge |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromKentucky's2nd district | |
| In office March 4, 1847 – March 3, 1849 | |
| Preceded by | John H. McHenry |
| Succeeded by | James Leeper Johnson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Beverly Leonidas Clarke (1809-02-11)February 11, 1809 Winterfield,Virginia, U.S. |
| Died | March 17, 1860(1860-03-17) (aged 51) Guatemala City, Guatemala |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouses | Mariah Louisa Clarke (died 1848)Zenobia Turner (after 1848) |
| Relations | John S. Mosby (son-in-law) |
| Children | 5 |
| Signature | .png) |
Beverly Leonidas Clarke (February 11, 1809 – March 17, 1860) was aU.S. Representative fromKentucky. He was known for his "sterling integrity, gentlemanly manners, and polished oratory."[1]
Clarke was born in Winterfield,Chesterfield County, Virginia, on February 11, 1809.[2] Winterfield was a 210-acre plantation near modern-dayMidlothian that had a horse racetrack on it. In the 1870s it was subdivided into 65 lots. The current subdivisions of Winterfield Station (2004), Winterfield Park (2016), and Winterfield Crossing (2018) all possess the name of the old plantation and yet are not located on the land of it.
Clarke attended the common school and moved to Kentucky in 1823. He studied law inFranklin, Kentucky, and graduated from the Lexington Law School in 1831.[2]
Clarke wasadmitted to the bar in 1833 and commenced practice inFranklin, Kentucky. He served as member of theKentucky House of Representatives in 1841 and 1842.[3]
Clarke was elected as aDemocrat to theThirtieth Congress (March 4, 1847 – March 3, 1849). He served as delegate to the Stateconstitutional convention in 1849.[2]
In 1855, Clarke, who was known as old-line conservative and proslavery candidate,[4] was selected as the Democratic nominee forGovernor of Kentucky.[5] His opponentCharles S. Morehead, a formerWhigU.S. Representative who ran with theKnow-Nothing Party ran a campaign that focused on immigrants and vilified Catholics leading to bloody riots inLouisville.[6] Although Clarke himself was not a Catholic, his wife was and that was used against him. Clarke had the support ofJohn C. Breckinridge, who (successfully) ran to replace Morehead in theHouse of Representatives and would later serve asVice-President of the United States from 1857 to 1861 under President Buchanan.[5] Clarke was defeated by Morehead (69,816 for Morehead to 65,413 for Clarke)[6] who served until 1859.[5]
On January 7, 1858, he was appointed byPresident Buchanan as U.S. Minister toGuatemala.[7] On January 14, 1858, he was also appointed as U.S. Minister toHonduras. He presented his credentials in Guatemala on July 13, 1858, and in Honduras on August 10, 1858, serving until his death in Guatemala on March 17, 1860.[7] After moving to Guatemala, Clarke converted toCatholicism, confirmed byBishop Bernardo Piñol withPedro de Aycinena y Piñol as his godfather, much to the delight of the people there.[8]
Clarke was married to his cousin Mariah Louise Clarke (1818 – c. 1848),[1] a devoutRoman Catholic.[9][10] Together, they were the parents of one son and three daughters (all of whom they named after theVirgin Mary), including:[1]
After Mariah Louise Clark's death, he married Zenobia Turner. Together, they were the parents of a son:[1]
Beverly Clarke died of diabetes inGuatemala City on March 17, 1860, while serving as the U.S. Minister.[13] He was first buried in Guatemala but later was interred in the State Cemetery,Frankfort, Kentucky,[2] after an act of theKentucky Legislature.[14]
Through his daughter Pauline, he was the grandfather of nine grandchildren of whom six survived.[1]
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| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Democratic nominee forGovernor of Kentucky 1855 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromKentucky's 2nd congressional district March 4, 1847 – March 3, 1849 | Succeeded by |
| Diplomatic posts | ||
| Preceded by | United States Minister to Guatemala July 13, 1858 – March 17, 1860 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | United States Minister to Honduras August 10, 1858 – March 17, 1860 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
