Background
He was the son of John Clark, a thread manufacturer in Paisley, where he was born on 9 August 1823.
He was the son of John Clark, a thread manufacturer in Paisley, where he was born on 9 August 1823.
He was educated at Paisley grammar school, and in 1840 was sent the firm of Kerr & Company of Hamilton, Ontario.
On reaching manhood he returned to Paisley, and entered into partnership with Messrs. Robert and John Ronald, shawlmakers, under the name of "Ronald & Clark". To extend the business he went in 1856 to the United States, and to avoid the tariffs the firm in 1864 established a factory at Newark, New Jersey.
lieutenant was a success, and Clark"s O.N.T. spool cotton soon became a recognised American brand.
In 1866 the firm amalgamated with the original firm of Clark under the name of Clark & Company,with an anchor as their trade-mark. Clark died at Newark on 13 February 1873.
By his will Clark left £20,000 for scholarships at Glasgow University, and £20,000 to build a town hall in Paisley. The firm of Clark & Company subscribed a further £40,000, and the building then styled the "George A. Clark Town Hall" was opened in 1882.
The architect was William Henry Lynn.