Governor Clark House

Governor James Clark House

Infobox_nrhp | name =Clark, Gov. James A., Mansion
nrhp_type =


caption = Governor James Clark House
location= Winchester, Kentucky
lat_degrees = 37
lat_minutes = 59
lat_seconds = 20
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 84
long_minutes = 11
long_seconds = 16
long_direction = W
locmapin = Kentucky
area =
built =1813
architect= Unknown
architecture= Georgian, Federal
added = June 13, 1974
governing_body = Local
refnum=74000859cite web|url=http://www.nr.nps.gov/|title=National Register Information System|date=2007-01-23|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service] Governor James Clark House located in Winchester, Kentucky. This house is a home and monument of James Clark (1779-1839), Governor of Kentucky, 1836-1839. It is located beside The Clark Public Library and it is surrounded by a wide grass yard, a big tree in front with a bench under the tree. It is made from red brick and stone, and looks old but still strong and magnificent. Besides that there is a white monument with the name of James Clark on it near this house.

Governor James Clark was the twelfth governor of Kentucky who won the governorship as a Whig in 1836, defeating Democrat Matthew Fluornoy. He was born on January 16, 1779 in Bedford County, Virginia, near the Peaks of Otter. He moved with his parents to Clark County, Kentucky, in 1794 where he studied law. He was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Winchester, Kentucky, in 1797.

James Clark’s political career was outstanding. He was a member of the State house of representatives in 1807 and 1808. He appointed judge of the court of appeals in 1810. Then, he was elected as a Republican to the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Congresses and served from March 4, 1813, until taking a leave of absence from the Congress on April 8, 1816, also resigned prior to August 1816. He was then made a judge of the circuit court 1817-1824. James Clark was elected as an Adams candidate to the Nineteenth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Henry Clay. He was reelected to the Twentieth Congress and also elected as an Anti-Jacksonian candidate to the Twenty-first Congresses where served from August 1, 1825, to March 3, 1831. He was chairman, Committee on Territories (Twenty-first Congress) and member of the State senate 1831-1835. These outstanding careers brought him to be a Governor of Kentucky in 1836.

As a governor, James Clark made a remarkable history in Kentucky. He served as a governor until his death in Frankfort, Kentucky, September 27, 1839. He was buried in a private burial ground in the old Clark home at Winchester, Clark County, Kentucky. People built The Monument in the place where he was buried. His state honored him while he lived and they erected this tomb as a pledge that they will cherish his memory in death.

This house becomes a place of history in Winchester, Kentucky. It still exists as a memorial to Governor James Clark. The home and Monument of James Clark 1779 – 1839.Governor of Kentucky, 1836 -1839.Member of Congress, Judge Court of Appeals as circuit court judge. He rendered his famous decision, which set off the old and new court fight 1821.

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