Robert Clark, American congressman. member of New York State Assembly, 1812-1815; member United States House
Background
Robert Clark was born in Washington County, New York, six months after his family emigrated from the Scottish Lowlands. His father died when he was age thirteen. Although his mother-in-law offered to help establish them in Lachine, Quebec, Canada, his wife"s former home, Clark refused to settle in the dominions of the British Crown.
Education
He was tutored privately and then studied medicine in the office of his older brother, Doctor Thomas Clark.
Career
He served in the New York State Assembly and one term as United States Representative from New New York With his family, he moved to Monroe, Michigan in 1823, joining the migration west. He did not run again for office.
He commenced a medical practice in Galway, New York in 1799.
That same year, at age 22 Clark married Catherine Reid, who was barely 15. Clark and Catherine remained in Galway.
He built a house where their first two children were born. They soon afterward moved to Stamford, New York, and later settled near Delhi, where he continued the practice of his profession.
Before the War of 1812, Clark entered politics.
A few years later, he was elected as a Democratic-Republican to the 16th United States Congress, holding office from March 4, 1819, to March 3, 1821. He was a delegate to the New York State Constitutional Convention of 1821. In New York, he was a Free and Accepted Mason.
In 1823, Clark and his family joined the migration west, moving to Monroe County, Michigan, and settling in the tiny village of Monroe.
He was not in harmony or fellowship with the Masonic lodge of Monroe. The couple had a total of thirteen children together, ten of whom grew to maturity.
From 1823 to 1831, he served as Register of the Land Office, an appointed office, for the 2nd Land District of Michigan Territory. The family at first lived in a small house in the village.
Clark soon purchased a farm at the edge of the village, which had once been part of a French-Canadian estate.
When the land office was moved to White Pigeon, Clark returned to the practice of medicine. He also became involved in the scientific cultivation of fruits and grasses and the subject of drainage. After a long and painful illness, Clark died on a Sabbath morning in Monroe, Michigan.
Clark"s wife survived him by 22 years.
Politics
Concerning his political affiliations, Clark used to say "that he had never changed his principles, but found himself a member of the Whig Party without needing to change" (Wing p 146).
Membership
He was elected as a member of the New York State Assembly (Delaware Company) in 1812 and 1814–1815.