Archibald Clark (politician)
Encyclopedia
Archibald Clark was a 19th century Member of Parliament in the Auckland Region
, New Zealand. He was the first Mayor of Auckland
in 1851. His company, Archibald Clark and Sons, manufactured clothing and was a wholesaler.
, Scotland
, in 1805, the son of Andrew Clark. He attended the University of Glasgow
to become a Presbyterian
minister, but returned home to take over his ill father's business before completing his studies. His first wife was Margaret McCosh, the daughter of a wealthy coal mine owner. Their eldest son, James McCosh Clark
, was born in 1833 in Beith and became a mayor of Auckland in the 1880s. Clark decided to emigrate and they left London on the barque Thames on 18 July 1849, and arrived in Auckland
with his third wife and four children on 25 November.
store in Shortland Street in 1850 and initially imported, but later manufactured clothing. In 1856 or 1857, his son James became a partner in the business, which became known as Archibald Clark and Sons. The company became quite large, at one time having 500 employees. Their building on the corner of Wellesley Street West and Elliott Street in the Auckland CBD
, built in 1910, is registered with the New Zealand Historic Places Trust
as a Category II heritage structure. The company ceased trading in 1928.
, who was chairman of Auckland City Council in 1852–1854. It was not until 1871, though, that Auckland was formally incorporated and Philip Philips
was elected (by the other city councillors and not by popular vote) as the first mayor of the city council.
He represented the City of Auckland electorate in 1860, until he was defeated (for the Newton
electorate). He then represented Auckland East
from 1866 to 1870, and Franklin
from 1871 to 1874, when he resigned due to failing health.
Clark was also a member of the Auckland Provincial Council
, representing the Auckland East electorate in the 5th Council from January 1867 to November 1868.
as a Category I heritage building.
Clark died on 17 October 1875 at his residence in Remuera
. For almost two years, he had not participated in public life due to failing health. He was buried three days later at Symonds Street Cemetery
.
Auckland Region
The Auckland Region was one of the sixteen regions of New Zealand, named for the city of Auckland, the country's largest urban area. With one third of the nation's residents, it was by far the biggest population and economy of any region of New Zealand, but the second-smallest land area.On 1...
, New Zealand. He was the first Mayor of Auckland
Mayor of Auckland City
The Mayor of Auckland City was the directly elected head of the Auckland City Council, the municipal government of Auckland City, New Zealand. The office existed from 1871 to 2010, when Auckland City Council was abolished and replaced with the Auckland Council....
in 1851. His company, Archibald Clark and Sons, manufactured clothing and was a wholesaler.
Early life
Clark was born in BeithBeith
Beith is a small town situated in the Garnock Valley in North Ayrshire, Scotland approximately 20-miles south-west of Glasgow. The town is situated on the crest of a hill and was known originally as the "Hill o' Beith" after its Court Hill.-History:-Name:Beith's name is thought to emanate from...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, in 1805, the son of Andrew Clark. He attended the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
to become a Presbyterian
Presbyterianism
Presbyterianism refers to a number of Christian churches adhering to the Calvinist theological tradition within Protestantism, which are organized according to a characteristic Presbyterian polity. Presbyterian theology typically emphasizes the sovereignty of God, the authority of the Scriptures,...
minister, but returned home to take over his ill father's business before completing his studies. His first wife was Margaret McCosh, the daughter of a wealthy coal mine owner. Their eldest son, James McCosh Clark
James Clark (New Zealand)
James McCosh Clark was Mayor of Auckland in the 1880s. He was a successful businessman until many of his ventures failed during the depression of the 1880s, which caused him to return to England for the last decade of his life...
, was born in 1833 in Beith and became a mayor of Auckland in the 1880s. Clark decided to emigrate and they left London on the barque Thames on 18 July 1849, and arrived in Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
with his third wife and four children on 25 November.
Professional career
Clark established a draperyDrapery
Drapery is a general word referring to cloths or textiles . It may refer to cloth used for decorative purposes – such as around windows – or to the trade of retailing cloth, originally mostly for clothing, formerly conducted by drapers.In art history, drapery refers to any cloth or...
store in Shortland Street in 1850 and initially imported, but later manufactured clothing. In 1856 or 1857, his son James became a partner in the business, which became known as Archibald Clark and Sons. The company became quite large, at one time having 500 employees. Their building on the corner of Wellesley Street West and Elliott Street in the Auckland CBD
Auckland CBD
The Auckland CBD is the geographical and economic heart of the Auckland metropolitan area. Bounded by several major motorways and by the harbour coastline in the north, it is surrounded further out by mostly suburban areas...
, built in 1910, is registered with the New Zealand Historic Places Trust
New Zealand Historic Places Trust
The New Zealand Historic Places Trust is a non-profit trust that advocates for the protection of ancestral sites and heritage buildings in New Zealand...
as a Category II heritage structure. The company ceased trading in 1928.
Political career
Auckland obtained its first local government in 1851, when the Borough of Auckland was created. Clark was elected to be the first and only mayor of the borough council, serving in 1851–1852. He was succeeded by Walter LeeWalter Lee (New Zealand)
Walter Lee was a 19th century New Zealand politician.He represented the Northern Division in the 1st Parliament and the 2nd Parliament; serving from 1853 to 1860, when he retired....
, who was chairman of Auckland City Council in 1852–1854. It was not until 1871, though, that Auckland was formally incorporated and Philip Philips
Philip Philips
Philip Philips was the first Mayor of Auckland City who held the office from 1871 to 1874....
was elected (by the other city councillors and not by popular vote) as the first mayor of the city council.
He represented the City of Auckland electorate in 1860, until he was defeated (for the Newton
Newton (New Zealand electorate)
Newton was a 19th century parliamentary electorate in Auckland, New Zealand.-History:Newton existed from 1861 to 1893. It was created for the 3rd New Zealand Parliament and ran to the end of the 11th Parliament, and was represented by seven MPs:...
electorate). He then represented Auckland East
Auckland East
Auckland East was a New Zealand electorate, situated in the east of Auckland.-History:The Auckland East electorate was established for the 1860-1861 elections, when the Auckland electorate was split in half. It consisted of most of modern Auckland's central business district...
from 1866 to 1870, and Franklin
Franklin (New Zealand electorate)
Franklin was a rural New Zealand parliamentary electorate. It existed from 1861 to 1996 during four periods.-Population centres:The original electorate from 1861 to 1881 included the South Auckland towns of Papatoetoe, Papakura, Pukekohe and Waiuku, and west of Waiuku to the West Coast...
from 1871 to 1874, when he resigned due to failing health.
Clark was also a member of the Auckland Provincial Council
Auckland Province
The Auckland Province was a province of New Zealand from 1853 until the abolition of provincial government in 1876.-Anniversary Day:...
, representing the Auckland East electorate in the 5th Council from January 1867 to November 1868.
Private life and death
Clark read widely, an interest that he obtained during his time at university. He was well liked by his friends, and was regarded by all for his integrity and conduct. He was active in St Andrew's Church and was one of the leading members of the congregation. These days, the church is the oldest surviving church building in Auckland, and registered with the New Zealand Historic Places TrustNew Zealand Historic Places Trust
The New Zealand Historic Places Trust is a non-profit trust that advocates for the protection of ancestral sites and heritage buildings in New Zealand...
as a Category I heritage building.
Clark died on 17 October 1875 at his residence in Remuera
Remuera
Remuera is a residential suburban area within Auckland city, in the North Island of New Zealand. It is located four kilometres to the southeast of the city centre...
. For almost two years, he had not participated in public life due to failing health. He was buried three days later at Symonds Street Cemetery
Symonds Street Cemetery
Symonds Street Cemetery is a historic cemetery and park in central Auckland, New Zealand. It is in 5.8 hectares of deciduous forest on the western slope of Grafton Gully, by the corner of Symonds Street and Karangahape Road, and is crossed by the Grafton Bridge...
.