Aaron Clark

Aaron Clark
62nd Mayor of New York City
In office 1837–1839
Preceded by	Cornelius Van Wyck Lawrence
Succeeded by	Isaac Varian
Personal details
Born	October 16, 1787 Worthington, Massachusetts
Died	August 2, 1861(1861-08-02) (aged 73) Brooklyn, New York
Spouse(s)	Catherine Maria Lamb
Alma mater	Union College

Aaron Clark (October 16, 1787 – August 2, 1861) was an American politician who became the second popularly elected Mayor of New York, serving two one-year terms from 1837 to 1839. He was a member of the Whig Party.

Clark was born in Worthington, Massachusetts. He grew up in Pawlet, Vermont, attended Union College in Schenectady, New York, and fought in the War of 1812.

After the war, Clark moved to Albany, New York, and was Clerk of the New York State Assembly from 1814 to 1820. Afterwards he removed to New York City where he worked in banking, ran a lottery, and became involved in local politics. He served as alderman, a powerful position in the charged political climate of the city. He was elected mayor in 1837 and 1838 for one year terms, and was defeated in 1839.

The main event of that year was the financial Panic of 1837, in which the economy collapsed following several years of boom. New York real estate values plummeted. Many were unemployed, some were homeless. There was widespread dissatisfaction among the working and middle class residents during what were called the "hard times".

To relieve the plight of the people, Alderman Clark focused on reviving the economy. Following his party's program of internal improvements, he proposed that shipping piers be built at public expense around the waterfront so as to stimulate trade and create jobs. An incautious statement that his proposal would "raise the price of every lot 5 x 100 feet west of Broadway $5,000 at a jump." fit in with the perception by many Democrats that the Whigs were the "party of the rich", and the Democrats pushed instead for "poor relief" (direct handouts).

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