Edward Clark (governor)

Edward Clark (governor)
8th Governor of Texas
In office
March 18, 1861 – November 7, 1861
Lieutenant Vacant
Preceded by Sam Houston
Succeeded by Francis Lubbock
7th Lieutenant Governor of Texas
In office
1859–1861
Governor Sam Houston
Preceded by Francis R. Lubbock
Succeeded by John McClannahan Crockett
Personal details
Born April 1, 1815( 1815-04-01)
New Orleans, Louisiana
Died May 4, 1880(1880-05-04) (aged 65)
Marshall, Texas
Political party Democratic
Profession Politician

Edward Clark (April 1, 1815 – May 4, 1880) was the eighth Governor of Texas. His term coincided with the beginning of the American Civil War.

Biography

Born in New Orleans, Clark moved to Texas in 1842 and set up a law practice. Clark served in the Texas Annexation Convention and two terms as a state representative in the Texas Legislature before fighting in the Mexican-American War. When the war ended, he served as secretary of state under Governor Elisha M. Pease and as lieutenant governor under Sam Houston. When Sam Houston refused to take an oath of allegiance to the Confederacy, Clark became governor.

After losing the governor's race by 124 votes to Francis Lubbock, Clark joined the 14th Texas Infantry as a colonel and was later promoted to brigadier general after being wounded in battle. He fled briefly to Mexico at the end of the American Civil War, but returned home to Marshall, Texas, where he died. His grave in the Marshall City Cemetery is marked with a historical mark.

His grandson, Ed Clark, was appointed by President Lyndon B. Johnson to be ambassador to Australia in 1965.

See also

Biography portal
United States Army portal
American Civil War portal

External links

Texas Senate
Preceded by
William Thomas Scott
Texas State Senator
from District 3

1847–1848
Succeeded by
Hart Hardin
Political offices
Preceded by
Francis R. Lubbock
Lieutenant Governor of Texas
1859–1861
Succeeded by
John McClannahan Crockett
Preceded by
Sam Houston
Governor of Texas
1861
Succeeded by
Francis R. Lubbock