Samuel Clark (New York and Michigan politician)

Samuel Clark (January 1800 – October 2, 1870) was an American lawyer and politician. He served as a U.S. Representative for both New York and Michigan.

Clark was born in Cayuga County, New York. He attended Hamilton College in Clinton and studied law in Auburn. In 1826 he was admitted to the bar and commenced the practice of law in Waterloo.

He was elected as a Jacksonian from New York's 25th congressional district to the Twenty-third Congress, serving from March 4, 1833 to March 3, 1835. After leaving Congress, he resumed his practice at Waterloo. In 1842, he moved to Kalamazoo, Michigan, and began a law practice there and became recognized as one of the leading lawyers in the state. Clark was a member of the Michigan State Constitutional Convention in 1850. In 1852, he was elected as a Democrat from Michigan's 3rd congressional district to the Thirty-third Congress, serving from March 4, 1853 to March 3, 1855. He lost to Republican David S. Walbridge in the general election of 1854.

On July 17, 1856, President Franklin Pierce nominated Clark to be register of the land office in the northeastern land district of Minnesota Territory.

He discontinued the practice of his profession and retired from political activities and became greatly interested in agricultural pursuits. He died in Kalamazoo and is interred in Mountain Home Cemetery.

References

• United States Congress. "Samuel Clark (id: C000451)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• Durant, Samuel W. (2005) [1880]. "The Professions". History of Kalamazoo county, Michigan. Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan Library. p. 117. Retrieved 2006-11-29.
• U.S. Congress. Senate Executive Journal. 34th Congress. 1st session. 18 July 1856
• Political Graveyard