David Clarkson (NYSE)


David Clarkson an American banker who was president of the New York Stock Exchange from 1837 to 1851.

Early life

He was the eldest son of eight children born to Gen. Matthew Clarkson and, his second wife, Sally Clarkson. From his father's first marriage to Mary Rutherfurd, he had one half-sister, Mary Rutherfurd Clarkson, who married her cousin Peter Augustus Jay. His father was a Revolutionary War hero who served in the New York State Assembly and Senate and was the 6th President of the Bank of New York.
His paternal grandparents were David Clarkson and Elisabeth Clarkson and his uncle, Thomas Streatfeild Clarkson, was the grandfather of Thomas S. Clarkson, the namesake of Clarkson University. His maternal grandparents were Samuel Cornell and Susan Cornell.

Career

Clarkson served as president of the New York Stock Exchange from 1837 until 1851 when he was succeeded by his vice president, Henry G. Stebbins. An earlier vice president under his presidency was Edward Prime, a son of Nathaniel Prime and partner in Prime, Ward & King. After his tenure as president of the Exchange, he was chosen as president of the Gallatin Fire Insurance Company, serving practically until his death in 1867.
Following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, he served as a governor of the New York Hospital "so that for one complete century, from 1770, when the board organized, to 1870, the name was on the board."

Personal life

On March 27, 1822, he was married to Elizabeth Streatfield Clarkson. Elizabeth, his cousin, was the daughter of Thomas Streatfeild Clarkson and Elizabeth Clarkson. Together, they were the parents of eleven children, including:
Clarkson died on June 3, 1867.