Because Of An Oath Of Allegiance

Edward Clark became the Governor of Texas on March 18^th 1861, when Sam Houston refused to take an oath of allegiance to the Confederacy.

Edward Clark was born in New Orleans, Louisiana April 1^st 1815 the son of Elijah Clark Jr.  He spent his childhood in Georgia and Alabama.  He moved to Marshall, Texas in 1842 where he opened a law practice.  Clark served at the Texas Annexation Convention and two terms as a Texas State Representative.  He fought during the Mexican American War, and when that was over he was Secretary of State to Texas Governor Elisha M Pease and Lieutenant Governor to Sam Houston.

In 1861 Texas voted to secede, but then Governor Sam Houston refused to take the oath of allegiance to the Confederacy.  Clark was made the Governor of Texas March 18^th 1861.  Once in office Clark moved quickly to raise militia, and stabilize Texas’ finances.  When the next election for Governor took place in the autumn of 1861, Clark lost the race by 124 votes to Francis Richard Lubbock.  Clark joined the 14^th Texas Infantry as their Colonel.  He was wounded while leading an attack at the Battle of Pleasant Hill, and ended the war as a Brigadier General.

When the Civil War came to an end Clark fled to Mexico.  He would return to his home in Marshall, Texas, where he died May 4^th 1880.  Clark is buried in the Marshall City Cemetery.

He Took Over For Houston

Edward Clark the Governor of Texas at the out break of the Civil war died May 4th 1880.

Clark was born in New Orleans LA April 1st 1815 the son of Elijah Clark Jr. He spent his childhood in Georgia and Montgomery AL. He moved in 1842 to Texas were he set up a law practice. Clark served the future state of Texas during the Annexation Convention and than for two terms as state representative in the Texas Legislation before he fought in the Mexican - American War. He served on the staff of General J Pinckney Henderson and received a citation for bravery at Monterrey.

After the conclusion of the war Clark served as secretary of state for Governor Elisha M Pease, and than as Lieutenant Governor under Sam Houston. When Houston refused to take the oath to allegiance to the Confederacy in 1861, Clark was declared Governor of Texas. He lost his bid for Governor by 124 votes to Francis Lubbock. So Clark became a Colonel in the 14th Texas Infantry, and after being wounded at Pleasant Hill LA as part of the Red River campaign, as Brigadier General. When the Civil War was over Edward fled for a time to Mexico, but would return to his home in Marshall TX.

Edward Clark died in Marshall on May 4th 1880. He is buried in the Marshall City Cemetery, and has a historical marker.