U.S. House Speaker. Born near Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, Champ Clark graduated from West Virginia's Bethany College in 1873, and served as President of Marshall College in Huntington, West Virginia while studying at the Cincinnati Law School. He received his law degree in 1875 and became an attorney and newspaper editor in Bowling Green, Missouri. From 1878 to 1881, he was City Attorney for Bowling Green and the nearby town of Louisiana. In the late 1880s, he served as Pike County's deputy prosecuting attorney and prosecuting attorney, and he was a member of Missouri's House of Representatives in 1889 and 1891. In 1892, he was the successful Democratic nominee for a seat in the U.S. House, serving one term. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1894, but reclaimed the seat in 1896, serving from 1897 until his death. He was Minority Leader from 1909 to 1911. When Democrats took control of the House after the 1910 elections, Clark was elected Speaker, serving from 1911 to 1919. In 1912, he was a candidate for President and widely expected to win the Democratic nomination, but was defeated by New Jersey Governor Woodrow Wilson. In 1918, Republicans took control of the House, and Clark again became Minority Leader, serving from 1919 until his death. He was defeated for reelection in the Republican landslide of 1920, and died in Washington, D.C. just two days before the expiration of his final House term. Clark's funeral was held in the Hall of the House of Representatives. His son Joel Bennett Clark, aka Bennett Champ Clark (1890-1954) served as a U.S. Senator (1933-1945), and a U.S. Court of Appeals Judge (1945 until his death).
U.S. House Speaker. Born near Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, Champ Clark graduated from West Virginia's Bethany College in 1873, and served as President of Marshall College in Huntington, West Virginia while studying at the Cincinnati Law School. He received his law degree in 1875 and became an attorney and newspaper editor in Bowling Green, Missouri. From 1878 to 1881, he was City Attorney for Bowling Green and the nearby town of Louisiana. In the late 1880s, he served as Pike County's deputy prosecuting attorney and prosecuting attorney, and he was a member of Missouri's House of Representatives in 1889 and 1891. In 1892, he was the successful Democratic nominee for a seat in the U.S. House, serving one term. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1894, but reclaimed the seat in 1896, serving from 1897 until his death. He was Minority Leader from 1909 to 1911. When Democrats took control of the House after the 1910 elections, Clark was elected Speaker, serving from 1911 to 1919. In 1912, he was a candidate for President and widely expected to win the Democratic nomination, but was defeated by New Jersey Governor Woodrow Wilson. In 1918, Republicans took control of the House, and Clark again became Minority Leader, serving from 1919 until his death. He was defeated for reelection in the Republican landslide of 1920, and died in Washington, D.C. just two days before the expiration of his final House term. Clark's funeral was held in the Hall of the House of Representatives. His son Joel Bennett Clark, aka Bennett Champ Clark (1890-1954) served as a U.S. Senator (1933-1945), and a U.S. Court of Appeals Judge (1945 until his death).
Bio by: Bill McKern
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