It is with feelings of sincere regret that we have to record the death of Mr. John Dent Clark, for many years editor-in-chief of the "Shanghai Mercury," which ocourred on Thursday afternoon at the residence of Mr. P. O'Brien Iwigg. My. Clark, although suffering from slight ailments, had not been seriously ill, but when sitting, in is chair on Thursday afternoon, he suddenly expired.
The Jate Mr. J. D. Clark, m.s.1., was born at Halesworth, Suffolk, on August 12, 1840, and was educat_ ec privately first, and afterwards at Norwich Grammar School. When quite a youth, he severed his connexion with home and country and, wa believe, took part in the Italian campaign under Garibaldi. This was the start of an adventurous career, in the: course of which he travelled over many seas and continents. After serving in the Royal Navy, he has related that he served as an enlisted man in either one or two of the navies of South American Republics, and he also made an adventurous trip on foot across the South American continent. He was again in the naval service when he arrived in the Far East in 1861, and was present when the actions of Shimonoseki and Kagoshima were fought. -In 1865 he left the Navy, and helped to establish two foreign newspapers in Japan—the "Rising Sun" and the "Nagasaki Express." Coming to Shanghai in 1875, he began business here as a broker and general merchant, and four years later established the '"Shanghai Mercury," in, partnership with the late Mr. Rivington, this paper absorbing the "Shanghai Courier." The 'Shanghai Mercury?' and "Shanghai Courier" were the first evening foreign newspapers in China, and through the energy of Mr. Clark, the "Mercury" quickly became a financial success, though started on a very limited capital. The Celestial Empire," a weekly edition of the "Mercury," followed a few years later, and Mr. Clark in his latter years was very fond of relating stories of newspaper work in Shanghai half-a-century ago. when at times he had to assist ju his own composing room.
Mr. Clark had certainly the happy knack of surrounding him self with loyal, zealous and contented employees, and many of the Chinese, as well as the foreign staff of the "Shanehai Mercury," had very long records of service under his direction.
In Shanghai, Mr. Clark was prominent in many different business connexions, and has been for many years a very able managing director of the firm of Hall & Holtz, Ld. He was Vice-President for some time of the board of directors of the "Sinwanpao,"' and was also, in'its early days, a director of the Amherst Rubber Estates, Ld. His chief work, however, was in connexion with the "Shanghai cury," in which he took a very
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.