Lewis Whitehouse Clark

Born at Barnstead, New Hampshire, Clark was the son of Jeremiah and Hannah (Whitehouse) Clark, his father being a prominent farmer of that town, who held several town offices and served as representative to the General Court.

[1] Clark attended the common schools of Barnstead and studied at Pittsfield and Atkinson academies.

He was a member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives from Pittsfield in 1856 and 1857, and was subsequently the Democratic candidate for Congress.

On August 13, 1877, Governor Benjamin F. Prescott appointed Clark to a seat on the state Supreme Court, and in May 1898 Governor George A. Ramsdell elevated Clark to the position of chief justice, following the death of Chief Justice Carpenter.

[1] Clark's elevation was considered "a due recognition of his ability and of his long and efficient service as a member of the court.