Lewis Whitehouse Clark (1828 - 1900)
Born at Barnstead (NH) died at Manchester (NH).
Teacher, lawyer, state legislator, jurist.
Portrait by unknown photographer.
Presented to the State, date unknown.

Clark worked on the family farm and attended Barnstead common schools, and then the academies at Pittsfield and Atkinson (both NH). He graduated from Dartmouth College (1850), then was principal of the Pittsfield (NH) Academy (August 1850 - December 1852), while studying law with Moses and A.F.L. Norris of Pittsfield. He was admitted to the New Hampshire Bar on September 3, 1852, and began law practice at Pittsfield with A.F.L. Norris (January 1853). A short time later Clark formed a partnership with Richard Hayes, a college classmate (1854/6). Then he practiced alone (1856/60). Clark was elected a State Representative (1856, 1857).

In 1860 Clark moved to Manchester (NH), and became a partner with George W. Morrison and Clinton W. Stanley in the firm of Morrison, Stanley & Clark. The firm was successful 1860 - 1866; then Clark became a law partner with Hon. Henry Huse. Their firm lasted until 1872, when the new Democratic Governor James A. Weston named Clark New Hampshire Attorney General.

Clark served as Attorney General until August 1876, when he was replaced by the new Republican-dominated legislature. He returned to private law practice, but a year later (August 13, 1877) was named Associate Justice of the State Supreme Court by Governor B.F. Prescott. Clark held his position on the bench for twenty-one years (1877 - 1898). He was named Chief Justice in May 1898, but had to retire in August because of age limitations. He then practiced law at Manchester until his death (May 28, 1907).

Reference: Edwin F. Jones, "Lewis W. Clark"; Proceedings of the Bar Association of...New Hampshire, vol. 1 (1900 - 1903). Concord: 1901 - 1903.