Matthew Wesley Clair

Matthew Wesley Clair (October 21, 1865–1943) was one of the first African-American bishops in the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Biography

Matthew W. Clair was born in 1865 in Union, West Virginia. He was a son of Anthony and Ollie (Green) Clair, former slaves.

Clair and Robert E. Jones were appointed bishops of the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1920, becoming the first black people to receive that title. Clair was assigned to Monrovia, Liberia. Prior to his appointment, he served as District Superintendent for the Church in Washington, D.C.

Bishop Clair and wife, Fannie, were the parents of two children:

• William O. Clair, born c. 1894
• John A. Clair, born c. 1903

References

• Yenser, Thomas (editor), Who's Who in Colored America: A Biographical Dictionary of Notable Living Persons of African Descent in America, Who's Who in Colored America, Brooklyn, New York, 1930-1931-1932 (Third Edition)

See also

• List of Bishops of the United Methodist Church

Persondata
Name	Clair, Matthew Wesley
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Date of birth	October 21, 1865
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Date of death	1943
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