John Arthur Clark

John Arthur Clark
Member of Parliament
for Burrard
In office
December 1921 – October 1925
Preceded bySanford Johnston Crowe
Succeeded byriding dissolved
Member of Parliament
for Vancouver—Burrard
In office
October 1925 – May 1930
Preceded byriding created
Succeeded byWilfred Hanbury
23rd President of the Canadian Bar Association
In office
1951–1952
Preceded byE. Gordon Gowling, K.C.
Succeeded byAndré Taschereau, c.r.
Personal details
Born(1886-06-08)8 June 1886
Dundas, Ontario
Died18 January 1976(1976-01-18) (aged 89)
Vancouver, British Columbia
Political partyConservative
Spouse(s)Jean A. McGillivray
m. 24 June 1914[1]
ProfessionBarrister and solicitor
Military service
Branch/serviceCanadian Expeditionary Force
Years of service1914–1919
RankBrigadier General
Unit72nd Battalion (Seaforth Highlanders of Canada), CEF
Commands7th Canadian Brigade (1918–19)
72nd Battalion (1915–18)
Battles/warsFirst World War
AwardsCompanion of the Order of St Michael and St George
Distinguished Service Order & Two Bars
Mentioned in Despatches (5)

Brigadier General John Arthur Clark, CMG, DSO & Two Bars, QC (8 June 1886 – 18 January 1976) was a Conservative member of the House of Commons of Canada. He was born in Dundas, Ontario and became a barrister and solicitor.

Clark attended secondary school in Vancouver, then studied at the University of Toronto and Osgoode Hall Law School, earning Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws degrees. During his career, he founded the law firm Clark Wilson along with his childhood friend and Second-in-Command, Alexander Wilson.

He served as a soldier during World War I, from 1914 to 1918, as commander of the 72nd Seaforth Highlanders and continued with the 7th Canadian Brigade (3rd Canadian Division) until the war's end. His awards include the Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG)[2] and the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) with two Bars.[1] The second bar to his DSO appeared in The London Gazette in December 1918 and reads as follows:

For most conspicuous gallantry and resourceful leadership. When one of his companies was held up by machine-gun fire from a wood, he led his men forward and by skilful tactics captured the machine guns with their crews. Two days later, when his men were again checked in front of a village, he dashed to the front, and led them to their objective, saving many casualties by his skill and fearlessness.

He was first elected to Parliament at the Burrard riding in the 1921 general election. With riding boundary changes, Clark became a candidate for Vancouver—Burrard and won election there in 1925 and 1926. After completing his third House of Commons term, the 16th Canadian Parliament, Clark left federal politics and did not seek re-election in the 1930 election.

Clark served as president of the Canadian Bar Association from 1951 to 1952.[3]

1921 Canadian federal election: Burrard
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Arthur Clark 12,240 55.89
Liberal Malcolm Archibald Macdonald 6,960 31.78 +7.03
Independent John David Harrington 2,699 12.32
Total valid votes 21,899 100.0  
Conservative gain from Government (Liberal–Unionist) Swing +24.43

References

  1. ^ a b Normandin, A.L. (1929). Canadian Parliamentary Guide. Ottawa: Mortimer Company.
  2. ^ "No. 31370". The London Gazette. 30 May 1919. p. 6793.
  3. ^ Canadian Bar Association: Past CBA Presidents