Clark, James, 1809-1885.

James Clark was born in Pennsylvania to Protestant parents on Oct. 21, 1809. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., in the class of 1829 and subsequently served one year as a 2nd lieutenant in the 4th Infantry Regiment of the U.S. Army. Following his conversion to Roman Catholicism he studied at Mount St. Mary's College, Emmitsburg, Md., and in 1844 entered the Society of Jesus. After studying at Georgetown University he was ordained to the priesthood in 1847. But for two years spent at Holy Cross College in Worcester, Mass., and the Frederick (Md.) Novitiate, Fr. Clark spent the years from 1848 to 1860 at Georgetown, where he was successively professor of mathematics and treasurer of the university. He was appointed president of Holy Cross College in 1861 and remained in that post until 1867 when he returned to Georgetown. In August of 1869 Fr. Clark became head of Gonzaga College High School in Washington, D.C. In 1875 he again returned to Georgetown and taught there until suffering a stroke in 1880. The last six years of Fr. Clark's life were spent in the infirmary at Georgetown, where he died on Sept. 9, 1885.

From the description of The Rev. James Clark, S.J., papers, 1825-1885 (bulk 1844-1885). (Georgetown University). WorldCat record id: 214338663