Abraham Clark

Abraham Clark (born Feb. 15, 1726, Elizabethtown (now Elizabeth), N.J. [U.S.]—died Sept. 15, 1794, Elizabeth, N.J., U.S.) was an American patriot and signer of the Declaration of Independence.

Though he had little formal education, Clark became a surveyor and managed transfers of property. He had a gift for politics and served in many public offices in New Jersey, including as sheriff of Essex county. He served in New Jersey’s colonial legislature in 1775–76, championing the cause of the colonies, and in 1776 was elected to the Continental Congress, where he voted for separation from Great Britain and signed the Declaration of Independence. He was reelected to the Continental Congress several times and was also a delegate to the Annapolis Convention (1786). He was chosen to be a delegate to the federal Constitutional Convention (1787) but was unable to attend, because of illness. Clark opposed adoption of the new U.S. Constitution until he was assured that a bill of rights would be added to it. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1791 until his death.