Charles Clark was one of the most celebrated of the Spanish American War U.S. Navy captains, but also one of the most forgotten. The exploits of the USS OREGON, with Clark as commanding officer were some of the most noteworthy events of the war.
Clark was born in Bradford, Vermont, USA, on August 10, 1843. He tried to enter West Point, but was not successful, so, in 1860, he accepted an appointment to the Naval Academy instead. While he was at the Academy, his family moved to Montpelier, Vermont, coincidentally, the hometown of George Dewey.
Clark's first assignment was to the USS CONSTITUTION, "Old Ironsides." The vessels served as the school and barracks ship for the Academy's lower classmen. While at the Academy, one of Clark's favorite instructors was Alfred Thayer Mahan, who became world- renowned for his ability to define the requirements of the new steel navy in which Clark would make his career.
During the Civil War, Clark saw the wreckage of the ships destroyed by the MERRIMAC in Hampton Roads. Later, he went to England aboard the venerable USS MACEDONIAN. In 1863, Clark's class was graduated a year early to serve in the fleet. Clark served aboard the sloop-of-war OSSIPEE. On this vessel, he served through the battle of Mobile Bay, during which the Confederate ram TENNESSEE surrendered to the OSSIPEE.
After the War, Clark served aboard the USS VANDERBILT, a side- wheeler, and then the USS SEWANEE. While aboard the SEWANEE, Charles Clark became a lieutenant commander. Shortly afterwards, the SEWANEE, with Lt. Commander. Clark serving as officer of the deck, ran aground on an uncharted rock and was destroyed near Vancouver Island. The crew all survived, but had to fend off hostile Indians until being rescued by forces of the British Royal Navy.
Charles Clark married Louisa Davis, the sister of one of his Annapolis classmates, in 1869. In 1870, after brief duty aboard the monitor USS DICTATOR, Clark began his new duties as commandant of midshipmen at his alma mater in Annapolis, Maryland. Afterwards, he served briefly aboard the monitor USS MAHOPAC.
A big change occurred in the lives of Charles and Louisa Clark in 1874. Charles was ordered to the Asiatic Squadron. He took his family - he now had two daughters - along with him to the far east. The Clark family lived in Nagasaki, Japan, while the lieutenant commander took his place as executive officer aboard the USS YANTIC. This duty was followed by service aboard the USS MONOCACY, a river gunboat which served in various ports and rivers of the far east. Clark found himself on the Yangtze River.
About 1879, the Clarks returned to the United States, with Charles receiving a billet close to home at the Boston Navy Yard. In August of 1881, he was assigned to the USS NEW HAMPSHIRE, an old ship of the line, now serving as a training vessel. In November of the same year, he was placed in command of the vessel, and given the rank of commander.
After serving aboard the USS RANGER on survey duty off the coast of Mexico and Central America from 1883 to 1886, Clark spent the next five years on shore duty, spending much time as a lighthouse inspector on the Great Lakes.
In 1894, Commander Clark was given command of the USS MOHICAN, a steam sloop of war. From this vessel, he commanded the ten vessels comprising the Bering Sea Patrol which enforced the regulations governing sealing operations. Clark performed excellent and efficient service, and was appointed captain in 1896.
Later, Clark was placed in charge of the USS INDEPENDENCE, an old ship of the line which served as a receiving ship at Mare Island, California. However, as tensions with Spain rose, Captain Clark found himself in command of the monitor MONTERREY.
On March 15, 1898, Clark had a rendezvous with destiny. He was detached from the MONTERREY to take command of the battleship USS OREGON. The ship was to steam for Peru in two days, and its commanding officer, Captain Alexander McCormick, had fallen seriously ill.
Clark's task was daunting. The OREGON, one of the new U.S. battleships was needed on the east coast if w