Francis Edward Clark

American minister
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Feedback
Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login).
Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

Quick Facts
Born:
Sept. 12, 1851, Aylmer, Quebec, Can.
Died:
May 26, 1927, Newton, Mass., U.S. (aged 75)

Francis Edward Clark (born Sept. 12, 1851, Aylmer, Quebec, Can.—died May 26, 1927, Newton, Mass., U.S.) was a Congregational churchman and writer who founded and led Christian Endeavor.

Clark graduated from Dartmouth College in 1873 and Andover Theological Seminary in 1876. He was pastor of churches in Portland, Maine (1876–83), and South Boston (1883–87). In 1881 he founded the United Society of Christian Endeavor, an autonomous interdenominational organization of young people. Its members pledged to lead a Christian life, to pray to God and read the Bible every day, and to participate actively in the work of the church. In 1887 he resigned his pastorate to serve as the organization’s president.

Clark became president of the World Christian Endeavor Union in 1895 and traveled around the world five times in the interests of its work. Clark also edited The Christian Endeavor World (1887–1919) and wrote many books on religious themes for young people.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Encyclopaedia Britannica.