William Robinson Clark FRSC (March 26, 1829 – 12 November 1912[1]) was a Scottish-Canadian theologian. He was born in Daviot, Aberdeenshire, son of James Clark. Originally educated for the Congregationalist ministry at New College London, he later conformed to the Church of England.[2] After graduating from King's College, Aberdeen MA with honours, he went to Hertford College, Oxford. Foster's 'Alumni Oxonienses' indicates that his BA was conferred by Oxford in 1864 and his MA in 1865.
Immediately after leaving New College, London he became minister of the Congregational Church at Lymington, Hampshire. He entered the Church of England in 1856, a fact attributed by his former tutor William Farrer (1820-1908) to the influence of Clark's wife.[3] He was the Curate of St Matthias, Birmingham, 1857-1858, and then the Dean of Taunton and prebendary of Wells Cathedral from 1859 to 1880.
In 1882, aged about 53, he emigrated to Canada and became the professor of Mental and Moral Philosophy at Trinity College, Toronto, Ontario (from 1883 to 1908). He was noted as a lecturer and preacher. He was also Professor of Theology at Toronto University.
He was described as one of the foremost theologians in North America, and there are records of him delivering lectures in Michigan. He was awarded an Honorary LL.D by Hobart College — now part of the Hobart and William Smith Colleges — in the U.S. in 1888.
He was the author of many biographical and theological works (both in the UK and in Canada). Many are held in the British Library.
He became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. He was elected in 1891 and later served as President of the Society from 1899 – 1900. It seems that he was involved in the formation of the Empire Club of Canada, and became President of the Empire Club of Canada 1905 – 1906.
In Canada, he also became a close friend of the long-time Prime Minister and political figure, William Lyon Mackenzie King (1874 – 1950), who was also of Scottish descent, and the Reverend William Robinson Clark is referred to in the Archives of Canada.
| Professional and academic associations | ||
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| Preceded by Thomas Keefer |
President of the Royal Society of Canada 1899-1900 |
Succeeded by Louis-Honoré Fréchette |