George W. Clarke graduated from Oskaloosa College and the University of Iowa College of Law, establishing a foundation in education and law. He taught school before practicing law and eventually forming a law partnership in 1882. Clarke served as justice of the peace, in the Iowa House of Representatives, and as Speaker of the House. He later became lieutenant governor and governor, during which he championed infrastructure projects and labor reforms. After his political career, Clarke returned to law and briefly served as Dean of Drake University Law School.

George W. Clarke's political career reveals a unique blend of infrastructural investment and economic pragmatism, underscored by his advocacy for both state beautification and workmen's compensation. His tenure as Governor saw a significant expansion of the Iowa State Capitol grounds, suggesting a forward-thinking approach to public investment. Simultaneously, his support for workmen's compensation laws indicates a nuanced understanding of labor rights within an economic framework. This combination of policy stances hints at a strategic balancing act between progress and protectionism.