| George W. Clarke | |
| Order1: | 21st |
| Office1: | Governor of Iowa |
| Lieutenant1: | William L. Harding |
| Term Start1: | January 16, 1913 |
| Term End1: | January 11, 1917 |
| Predecessor1: | Beryl F. Carroll |
| Successor1: | William L. Harding |
| Office2: | Lieutenant Governor of Iowa |
| Governor2: | Beryl F. Carroll |
| Term Start2: | January 14, 1909 |
| Term End2: | January 16, 1913 |
| Predecessor2: | Warren Garst |
| Successor2: | William L. Harding |
| Birth Name: | George Washington Clarke |
| Birth Date: | 24 October 1852 |
| Birth Place: | Shelby County, Indiana, U.S. |
| Death Place: | Adel, Iowa, U.S. |
| Resting Place: | Adel Cemetery |
| Party: | Republican |
| Children: | 4 |
| Relatives: | Nile Kinnick (grandson) |
| Alma Mater: | Oskaloosa College (AB) University of Iowa College of Law |
George Washington Clarke (October 24, 1852 – November 28, 1936) served two terms as the 21st Governor of Iowa from 1913 to 1917.
George Washington Clarke was born on October 24, 1852, in Shelby County, Indiana, to Eliza (née Akers) and John Clarke. At the age of four, his family moved near Drakesville, Iowa.[1] [2] [3] [4] He taught school in Bloomfield, Iowa. He graduated from Oskaloosa College with a Bachelor of Arts in 1877. He graduated from the University of Iowa College of Law in 1878.[1] [4]
Clarke served four years as justice of the peace and in 1882 formed a law partnership with John B. White.[4] He was a Republican. He served in the Iowa House of Representatives from 1901 to 1909 and was speaker of the house for two terms from 1904 to 1909.[1] He was chair of the judiciary committee.[4] He was lieutenant governor for two terms from 1909 to 1913. In 1912, he defeated Bull Moose Party candidate John L. Stevens for Governor of Iowa. He served from 1913 to 1917. During his tenure, he pushed for a beautification project of the Iowa State Capitol grounds. The grounds were expanded from four blocks to .[1] [5] He advocated for better roads and workmen's compensation laws.[4] [5]
Clarke was dean of Drake University Law School for one year.[5] He was manager for the campaign of Albert B. Cummins.[5] He practiced law in Des Moines, Iowa. His papers are in the collection of the University of Iowa.
Clarke married Arletta Greene on June 23, 1878.[3] [4] [6] He had two sons and two daughters, including Fred, Charles and Frances.[1] [4] [7] In 1895, he established a farm near Adel.[5] He had an extensive book collection and library.[5] One of his grandchildren was Nile Kinnick, who won the Heisman Trophy while playing for the University of Iowa.[6]
Clarke died on November 28, 1936, at his home in Adel.[1] He was buried in Adel Cemetery.[8]