Identity area
Type of entity
Person
Authorized form of name
Clark, Joe
Parallel form(s) of name
Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules
Other form(s) of name
Identifiers for corporate bodies
Description area
Dates of existence
1939-
History
The Right Honourable Joe Clark was born in High River, Alberta in 1939. He obtained a B.A. (History) and M.A. (Political Science) from the University of Alberta. He was elected to the House of Commons in 1972, 1974, 1979 and 1980. He became the Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada and Leader of the Opposition in 1976. As the 16th Prime Minister from May 1979 to March 1980 he was the first native westerner and youngest to hold office. Later in 1980 he became Leader of the Opposition until he lost the party leadership in 1983. Clark did not return to active federal politics until 1998 when he became the federal Conservative leader. After leaving party leadership, he served as Canada's Minister of External Affairs in 1984. In 1991 he became the President of the Privy Council and Minister Responsible for Constitutional Affairs. Clark was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws, University of New Brunswick, 1976, an Alberta Award of Excellence, 1983, and Honorary LL.D.s from the University of Calgary in 1984 and University of Alberta in 1985. In 1976 he married Maureen McTeer, a well-known author and lawyer.