John Clark

Who is John Clark?

John Clark, was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons for various constituencuies between 1653 and 1659. He was a colonel in the Parliamentary army.

Clark was of Kensington. In 1647, he took up the accusation against the Eleven Members. He was sent as Lieut Col Clerke with Admiral Blake to reduce the Scilly Isles in May 1651. In 1653 he was nominated as one of the representatives for Ireland in the Barebones Parliament. He was on the Fleet Committee in December 1653 and became a Commissioner for Irish affairs in January 1654. In February 1654, he was a Commissioner of the Admiralty and was appointed a commissioner for the army on 24 June 1654. In August 1654, he was returned to the First Protectorate Parliament as one of the two members for the three counties of Donegal, Londonderry, and Tyrone and sat till January 1655. He was at that time Governor of Londonderry. In 1656 he was elected Member of Parliament for Pembrokeshire and Cardiganshire in the Second Protectorate Parliament and chose to sit for Cardiganshire until 10 December 1657. He was summoned to Cromwell's Other House, but did not take his seat. After the death of Oliver Cromwell he signed the order for proclaiming Richard Cromwell Protector and was on the Committee of Safety in 1659. In 1659, he was elected MP for Melcombe Regis and for Dartmouth in a double return and chose to sit for Melcombe Regis until April 1659.