- Ernest Clark (governor)
Infobox Officeholder
honorific-prefix = Sir
name = Ernest Clark
honorific-suffix =
GCMG, KCB, CBE
imagesize =
small
caption =
order = 15th
office = Governor of Tasmania
term_start =August 4 ,1933
term_end =August 4 ,1945
lieutenant =
monarch = King George V (1933-1936)
King Edward VIII (1936)
King George VI (1936-1945)
predecessor = Sir James O'Grady
successor = Sir Hugh Binney
birth_date = birth date|1864|4|13
birth_place =Plumstead ,Kent ,England , UK
death_date = death date and age|1951|8|26|1864|4|13
death_place = Seaton,Devon ,England , UK
restingplace =Cornelian Bay, Tasmania
restingplacecoordinates =
birthname =
nationality = British
spouse = Mary Winkfield (1899–1944)
Harriet Jessie Constance McLennan (1947–1951)Sir Ernest Clark, GCMG, KCB, CBE (
April 13 ,1864 –August 26 ,1951 ) was a British civil servant, who wasGovernor of Tasmania from 1933 to 1945.Early life and education
Ernest Clark was born on
13 April 1864 inPlumstead ,Kent to teacher Samuel Henry Clark, and his wife Ann Leaver. He was educated atKing's College London , and entered thecivil service in 1881, working forHM Treasury .Civil service
Clark was called to the bar at
Middle Temple in 1894, and joined the Treasury's legal staff. In 1904, he had his first experience managing colonial finances when he was seconded to theCape Colony inAfrica to establish the colony's taxation procedures, subsequently serving the government of theUnion of South Africa .John Reynolds, [http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A080006b.htm Clark, Sir Ernest (1864 - 1951)] , "Australian Dictionary of Biography ", Volume 8, Melbourne University Press, 1981, pp 6-7.]When
World War I broke out, Clark worked as a Treasury liaison officer with theWar Office and the Ministry of Munitions. After the war, he was appointed CBE in 1918, and joined theBoard of Inland Revenue as assistant secretary and deputy inspector of taxes.From 1920, Clark was appointed to
Northern Ireland as assistant under-secretary – the equal in the six counties to Sir John Anderson, the head of the Dublin administration – and was instrumental in resolving amicable relations betweenNorthern Ireland and the newly-formedIrish Free State . [cite book |title=Northern Ireland and the Politics of Reconciliation |last=Keogh |first=Dermot |authorlink= |coauthors=Michael H. Haltzel |year=1993 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |location=UK |isbn=0521459338 |pages=pp. 90 ] His friendship withJames Hamilton, 3rd Duke of Abercorn , theGovernor of Northern Ireland , also eased relations between the new Irish government andDowning Street . Clark was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in 1924.Governor of Tasmania
Clark visited
Australia in 1928, as a member of a British government economic delegation tasked with examining the state of the Australian economy. [McDougall, F.L.: [http://www.info.dfat.gov.au/info/historical/HistDocs.nsf/vVolume/EE83591B695F7F22CA256D950020D952 Letter to the Prime Minister - Business Delegation] ,Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Australia) ,1 March 1928 .] His report on Australian economics greatly impressed thePremier of Tasmania ,Joseph Lyons , and it was believed that Lyons (by then Prime Minister) may have suggested Clark for the post ofGovernor of Tasmania in 1933. The post had been vacant since 1930 due to lack of funds, and Clark's appointment, with his background in finance and contacts in London business may aid both Tasmania and Australia.Clark's term as governor was extended three times due to
World War II . He was enormously popular inTasmania , especially because of his untiring visits to all parts of the state, encouraging morale during the war. He was given the rare honour of GCMG at the end of hostilities.Clark returned to England in 1945, where he married his second wife Harriet McLennan in 1947. He died on
26 August 1951 at his home inSeaton, Devon , and his remains were shipped to Tasmania for interment at Cornelian Bay Cemetery.References
External links
*Private papers at the [http://www.utas.edu.au/library/libs/mml/morrismiller.html Morris Miller Library]
*A brief bio at the [http://www.naa.gov.au/Publications/Research_Guides/fedguide/legacy/tas/tas2+.htm National Archives of Australia]
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