George Leonard

Background

George L. Clarke was born in Norton, Massachusetts.

Career

Upon turning 16, he left school and worked in a store in Providence. He supplemented his education by attending public lectures known as "Lyceum Lectures". Clarke was a staunch and outspoken abolitionist from an early age, and became well-known throughout the state for his anti-slavery views, even in a time when such views were not popular.

When that became absorbed into the Republican Party in 1854, Clarke became a Republican.

He served in the State House of Representatives in 1856 to 1858, then again in 1863-1868. He was Speaker of the House for the last two of those years.

He was elected to the State Senate in April 1869. A month after Clarke"s election to State Senate, Providence"s popular mayor Thomas A. Doyle left the Republican Party to run as an independent.

The Republican party drafted Clarke to run against him.

During Clarke"s time as mayor, a system of fire alarm boxes were installed in Providence. The Sockanosset Reservoir was begun, and Dexter Asylum was enlarged. A major hurricane struck the city on September 8, 1869, which caused much damage and flooding in downtown Providence.

After his mayorship, Clarke was elected to the Board of Aldermen from the First Ward.

Later he became president of the City Fire Insurance Company.

Achievements

• Clarke won in a three-way race, but Doyle returned to defeat Clarke the following year, winning by a two-to-one margin.

Membership

Clarke was first a member of the Liberty Party which later became the Free Soil Party.