Robert Farley Clark (May 20, 1838–January 30, 1912) was an American banker, political figure, and sportsman who served as chairman of the Boston Police Commission and was the first president of the

Boston Athletic Association The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) is a non-profit dedicated to organized sports, with a focus on running, in the Greater Boston area. The B.A.A. hosts such events as the Boston Marathon, the B.A.A. 5K, the B.A.A. 10K, the B.A.A. Half Mar ...

Early life

Clark was born in

Boston Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...

to Benjamin Cutler and Mary Preston Clark. He attended

Boston Public Schools Boston Public Schools (BPS) is a school district serving the city of Boston, Massachusetts, United States. It is the largest public school district in the state of Massachusetts. Leadership The district is led by a superintendent, hired by t ...

and graduated from

Boston Latin School The Boston Latin School is a Magnet school, magnet Latin schools, Latin Grammar schools, grammar State school, state school in Boston, Massachusetts. It has been in continuous operation since it was established on April 23, 1635. It is the old ...

in 1856. During his youth, Clark was a standout rower. In 1857 he was a member of the 6-man Volant crew that was the champion of the Charles River Association and beat the Huron crew made up of Harvard students Samuel B. Parkman, Charles F. Walcott, William H. Elliot, William G. Goldsmith,

Alexander Agassiz Alexander Emmanuel Rodolphe Agassiz (December 17, 1835March 27, 1910), son of Louis Agassiz and stepson of Elizabeth Cabot Agassiz, was an American scientist and engineer. Biography Agassiz was born in Neuchâtel, Switzerland, and immigrated t ...

, and

James J. Storrow James Jackson Storrow II (January 1864 was an American investment banker, politician, and scouting leader. He gave up a legal career to become a partner of Lee, Higginson & Co. He was also involved with automobile business, first as president o ...

. After graduating, Clark worked for his father, who was a prominent Boston importer.

Military service

On September 2, 1861, Clark enlisted in the Union Army. Clark was commissioned a captain in the 24th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment. He took part in

Burnside's North Carolina Expedition Burnside's North Carolina Expedition (also known as the Burnside Expedition) was a series of engagements fought along the North Carolina Coast between February and June 1862. The expedition was part of Winfield Scott's overall Anaconda Plan, which ...

and fought in the battles of

Roanoke Island Roanoke Island () is an island in Dare County, bordered by the Outer Banks of North Carolina. It was named after the historical Roanoke, a Carolina Algonquian people who inhabited the area in the 16th century at the time of English colonizat ...

New Bern New Bern, formerly Newbern, is a city in Craven County, North Carolina, United States, and its county seat. It had a population of 31,291 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. It is located at the confluence of the Neuse River, Neuse a ...

, Goldsborough Bridge, White Hall, and Tranter's Creek. He then served as a senior aide to brigadier general

Thomas G. Stevenson Thomas Greely Stevenson (February 3, 1836 – May 10, 1864) was a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He was killed in action during the Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse. Biography Stevenson was born in Boston, Massachusett ...

and was with him at the

Second Battle of Fort Wagner The Second Battle of Fort Wagner, also known as the Second Assault on Morris Island or the Battle of Fort Wagner, Morris Island, was fought on July 18, 1863, during the American Civil War. Union Army troops commanded by Brigadier general (Uni ...

. Clark was ordered to return home following his father's death and was honorably discharged from the army on February 5, 1864.

Business career

After leaving the Army, Clark became a stock broker in Boston. He was associated with the firm of Hayden, Stone & Co. and was treasurer of the

Boston Stock Exchange The Boston Stock Exchange (now NASDAQ BX, formerly ''BSE'') was a regional stock exchange formerly located in Boston, Massachusetts. It was founded in 1834, making it the third-oldest stock exchange in the United States. On October 2, 2007, NASDAQ ...

Boston Athletic Association

Clark was one of the original members of the Boston Athletic Association and was chosen to serve as the organization's first president. He did not seek a second term due to business obligations.

Boston police commission

On March 30, 1893, Clark was nominated for a seat on the Boston police commission by Governor William E. Russell. Clark had never sought political office before and was not affiliated with any political party. He was confirmed by the

Massachusetts Governor's Council The Massachusetts Governor's Council (also known as the Executive Council) is a governmental body that provides advice and consent in certain matterssuch as judicial nominations, pardons, and commutationsto the Governor of Massachusetts. Council ...

on April 13, 1893, and took office on May 1. He was reappointed by Governor Roger Wolcott in 1898. The following year, Clark was designated chairman of the commission by Governor Wolcott. Clark's two colleagues on the commission (Charles P. Curtis Jr. and Harry F. Adams) designed him the sole spokesman for the board. In 1893, Governor

John L. Bates John Lewis Bates (September 18, 1859 – June 8, 1946) was an American lawyer and Republican politician from Massachusetts. Bates worked to promote East Boston, securing legislative approval of the first tunnel under Boston Harbor, joining the n ...

chose not to reappoint Clark and he was succeeded by William H. Emmons.

Personal life

In 1865, Clark married Margarita Jones, daughter of John Coffin Jones Jr. They had one son, Robert J. Clark. Clark died on January 13, 1912, at his home in

Milton, Massachusetts Milton is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. Milton is an immediate southern suburb of Boston, Massachusetts. The population was 28,630 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Milton is located in the relatively hilly ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Clark, Robert F. 1838 births 1912 deaths American stockbrokers Boston Latin School alumni Burials at Mount Auburn Cemetery Businesspeople from Boston People from Milton, Massachusetts Presidents of the Boston Athletic Association Rowers from Boston Union army officers