![]() William Thomas Clark Major General, United States Army |
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Born
at Norwalk, Connecticut, on June 29, 1831, he reportedly struck out on
his own at the age of 13.
He was admitted to the New York Bar in 1854 and moved two years later to Davenport, Iowa, where he began the practice of law. In 1861, he recruited the 13th Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He was First Lieutenant and Adjutant of the Regiment until March 5, 1862 when he was promoted Captain. Until the end of the war he had staff rank and eventually was prompted Lieutenant Colonel, Assistant Adjutant General and Brigadier General of Volunteers, May 31, 1865. He was breveted Brigadier General, United States Army, for gallant and meritorious service at the battle of Atlanta, where he served as James McPherson's Adjutant and also Major General, U.S. Volunteers, in November 1865 for gallant and meritorious services in the war. Still holding his volunteer commission, he arrived in Texas, a full-blown carpetbagger. After helping to organize a bank in Galveston, he was soon closely allied with the leader of that town's Negroes, who succeeded in 1869 in electing him to the House of Representatives as an exponent of reconstructing Texas. He advocated the sale of West Texas lands for the benefit of the railroads in which he was reputed to have an interest. Defeated for reelection in 1871 by a Conservative Democrat, but certified by a corrupt Republican Governor who threw out more than 3,000 opposing votes, he was later expelled from the House of Representatives by a unaminous vote of both parties. He soon obtained a position in the Bureau of
Revenue. which he occupied until he died in New York City on October 12,
1905. He was buried in Section 3 of Arlington National Cemetery.
Courtesy of the Congress of the United States: Representative from Texas; born in Norwalk,
Conn., June 29, 1831; self-educated; taught school in Norwalk, Conn.,
in 1846; studied law in New York City; was admitted to the bar in 1855
and commenced practice in Davenport, Iowa, the same year; during the Civil
War served in the Union Army; commissioned first lieutenant
![]() Photo Courtesy of the National Archives Updated: 11 November 2000 Updated: 30 August 2002 Updated: 22 February 2003 |
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