John Clark (chaplain)
Encyclopedia
John Flavel Clark was a Presbyterian clergyman who served as Chaplain of the Senate.
, the oldest of three sons of Margaret Imlay Clark and Dr. Joseph Clark who was pastor of First Presbyterian Church of New Brunswick, New Jersey
(1796–1813). Joseph Clark also served on George Washington
's general staff during the Revolutionary War
. John F. Clark graduated valedictorian from Princeton University
in 1807. After graduation he was engaged in teaching in Georgia. He began studying for the ministry at Andover Theological Seminary in 1810. There he became acquainted with Adoniram Judson
, Samuel Newell and Samuel John Mills
, thus beginning a lifelong commitment to the cause of foreign missions. He was one of the founders of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions
.
He was chosen to be a tutor at Princeton, where he continued his divinity studies under its president Ashbel Green
. He was called to be stated supply at First Presbyterian Church Flemington, New Jersey
, and then to be its pastor, resulting in his ordination in June 1815.
, meeting in the Old Brick Capitol in Washington. Thereafter, Clark served as pastor of these Presbyterian churches in succession: Paterson, New Jersey
(1837–1841), Cold Spring, New York
(1841–1845), Oyster Bay, New York
(1845–1846), and Fishkill, New York
(1847 until his death).
Clark died on October 7, 1853 in his sixty-ninth year.
Early years
John Flavel Clark was born on December 10, 1784, in Allentown, New JerseyAllentown, New Jersey
Allentown is a Borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 1,828.Allentown was incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on January 29, 1889, from portions of Upper Freehold Township, based on the...
, the oldest of three sons of Margaret Imlay Clark and Dr. Joseph Clark who was pastor of First Presbyterian Church of New Brunswick, New Jersey
New Brunswick, New Jersey
New Brunswick is a city in Middlesex County, New Jersey, USA. It is the county seat and the home of Rutgers University. The city is located on the Northeast Corridor rail line, southwest of Manhattan, on the southern bank of the Raritan River. At the 2010 United States Census, the population of...
(1796–1813). Joseph Clark also served on George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
's general staff during the Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
. John F. Clark graduated valedictorian from Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
in 1807. After graduation he was engaged in teaching in Georgia. He began studying for the ministry at Andover Theological Seminary in 1810. There he became acquainted with Adoniram Judson
Adoniram Judson
Adoniram Judson, Jr. was an American Baptist missionary, who served in Burma for almost forty years. At the age of 25, Adoniram Judson became the first Protestant missionary sent from North America to preach in Burma...
, Samuel Newell and Samuel John Mills
Samuel John Mills
Samuel John Mills Jr. was born at Torringford, Connecticut.His father was Congregational minister Samuel John Mills and mother was Esther Robbins....
, thus beginning a lifelong commitment to the cause of foreign missions. He was one of the founders of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions
American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions
The American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions was the first American Christian foreign mission agency. It was proposed in 1810 by recent graduates of Williams College and officially chartered in 1812. In 1961 it merged with other societies to form the United Church Board for World...
.
He was chosen to be a tutor at Princeton, where he continued his divinity studies under its president Ashbel Green
Ashbel Green
Ashbel Green, D.D. was an American Presbyterian minister and academic.Born in Hanover Township, New Jersey, Green served as a sergeant of the New Jersey militia during the American Revolutionary War, and went on to study with Dr. John Witherspoon and graduate as valedictorian from Princeton...
. He was called to be stated supply at First Presbyterian Church Flemington, New Jersey
Flemington, New Jersey
Flemington is a borough in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the borough population was 4,581. It is the county seat of Hunterdon County....
, and then to be its pastor, resulting in his ordination in June 1815.
Ministry
He became stated supply for the First English Presbyterian Church of Amwell, New Jersey, in 1820—he would pastor both that congregation and the Flemington Church until 1836. He was elected Chaplain of the Senate on November 18, 1818; this was the 15th United States Congress15th United States Congress
-Leadership:- Senate :* President: Daniel D. Tompkins * President pro tempore:** John Gaillard , elected March 4, 1817** James Barbour , elected February 15, 1819- House of Representatives :*Speaker: Henry Clay -Members:...
, meeting in the Old Brick Capitol in Washington. Thereafter, Clark served as pastor of these Presbyterian churches in succession: Paterson, New Jersey
Paterson, New Jersey
Paterson is a city serving as the county seat of Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 146,199, rendering it New Jersey's third largest city and one of the largest cities in the New York City Metropolitan Area, despite a decrease of 3,023...
(1837–1841), Cold Spring, New York
Cold Spring, New York
Cold Spring is a village located in the Town of Philipstown in Putnam County, New York. The population was 1,983 at the 2000 census. It borders the smaller village of Nelsonville...
(1841–1845), Oyster Bay, New York
Oyster Bay (town), New York
The Town of Oyster Bay is easternmost of the three towns in Nassau County, New York, in the United States. Part of the New York metropolitan area, it is the only town in Nassau County that extends from the North Shore to the South Shore of Long Island. As of the 2010 census, the town population was...
(1845–1846), and Fishkill, New York
Fishkill, New York
Fishkill is an upscale village within the much larger town, Town of Fishkill, one of the fastest growing towns in the region, in Dutchess County, New York, USA. The village population was 1,735 at the 2000 census...
(1847 until his death).
Clark died on October 7, 1853 in his sixty-ninth year.