Charles Clarke (Canadian politician)

Charles Clarke (November 28, 1826 April 6, 1909) was speaker of the Legislature of Ontario in 1880-1883 and served as Liberal MLA for Wellington Centre from 1871 to 1886 and for Wellington East from 1886 to 1891.

Charles Clarke
Ontario MPP
In office
1886–1891
Preceded byNew riding
Succeeded byJames Kirkwood
ConstituencyWellington East
In office
1871–1886
Preceded byAlexander David Ferrier
Succeeded byRiding abolished
ConstituencyWellington Centre
Personal details
Born(1826-11-28)November 28, 1826
Lincoln, England
DiedApril 6, 1909(1909-04-06) (aged 82)
Elora, Ontario
Political partyLiberal
OccupationBusinessman

He was born in Lincoln, England, in 1826, studied there with George Boole, was apprenticed as a draper and came to Canada West in 1844. He joined his mother and stepfather on a farm in the Niagara District and later moved with them to Elora. He opened a store with his stepfather there. He was editor for the Journal and Express newspapers in Hamilton and helped establish the Elora Backwoodsman. He served on the town council for Elora and was reeve from 1859 to 1864 and from 1867 to 1868. He commanded a local militia unit during the Fenian raids, becoming lieutenant-colonel. In 1874, he helped introduce legislation that established the secret ballot for elections in the province. He became clerk of the legislature in January 1892 and served until 1907. He died in Elora in 1909.

  • Ontario Legislative Assembly parliamentary history
  • J A Gemmill (ed), The Canadian Parliamentary Companion, 1891, page 214; Ottawa : J. Durie, 1891.
  • Dewar, Kenneth C. (1994). "Clarke, Charles". In Cook, Ramsay; Hamelin, Jean (eds.). Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Vol. XIII (1901–1910) (online ed.). University of Toronto Press.
  • Charles Clarke fonds, Archives of Ontario


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