Myron H. Clark

Myron H. Clark

Myron Holley Clark (born October 3, 1806 in Naples , Ontario County , New York , † August 23, 1892 in Canandaigua , New York) was an American politician and governor of the state of New York from 1855 to 1857 .

Early years and political advancement

Myron Clark attended public schools in his home country. Then he became a member of the militia of his state, in which he rose to lieutenant colonel. Clark became a member of the Whig Party . Between 1837 and 1839 he was a sheriff in Ontario County. After moving to Canandaigua, he was mayor of that city between 1850 and 1851. Clark was a member of the New York Senate from 1852 to 1854 . On November 7, 1854, he was elected as the new governor of his state as a candidate for a coalition against slavery in the tightest gubernatorial election in the history of New York State.

Governor of New York

Myron Clark was the last New York governor to belong to the Whigs. He served between January 1, 1855 and January 1, 1857. It is noteworthy that he passed a prohibition law , but a few months later the Supreme Court of the state found it inconstitutional and invalidated it. Ever since his time in the State Senate, the governor had campaigned for the mergers of the railroad companies in New York. At the same time, he made sure that the fare and freight charges remained low.

Another résumé

After his tenure ended, Myron Clark remained a supporter of the prohibition movement. In 1874 he became an unsuccessful Prohibition Party candidate for gubernatorial elections. Ex-Governor Clark died in 1892 and was buried in Canandaigua. He had five children with his wife, Zilpha Watkins.

literature

• Robert Sobel and John Raimo (Eds.): Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789–1978. Volume 3, Meckler Books, Westport, 1978. 4 volumes.

Web links

• Myron Clark in the National Governors Association (English)
• Kurzbiographie (English)
• Myron H. Clark in the database of Find a Grave (English)