John Clark (Georgia governor)
John Clark | |
|---|---|
| 31st Governor of Georgia | |
| In office November 5, 1819 – November 7, 1823 | |
| Preceded by | Matthew Talbot |
| Succeeded by | George Troup |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 28, 1766 Edgecombe County, North Carolina |
| Died | October 12, 1832 (aged 66) St. Andrews Bay, Florida, US |
| Resting place | St. Andrews Bay, relocated to Marietta National Cemetery |
| Political party | Democratic-Republican |
| Spouse | Nancy Clark |
| Relatives | Elijah Clarke (father), Edward Clark (nephew) |
| Occupation | Planter, politician |
John Clark (sometimes spelled Clarke) (February 28, 1766 – October 12, 1832) was an American planter, politician, and slaveholder. He was the 31st Governor of the U.S. state of Georgia, from 1819 to 1823. As governor, he prevailed in the U.S. Supreme Court case Ex parte Madrazzo, a dispute over whether a claim of ownership of a group of enslaved people could be enforced against the state. He also advocated for presidential electors to be elected by popular vote as seen in many of his bills, culminating to the 1824 Georgia Popular Vote Referendum.