Clevland’s father was a Scotsman by birth, a distinguished naval commander, and the first of the family to settle in Devon; his mother was of an old Devonshire family. John Clevland’s career is best summed up in the ‘Memorial’ which some time in 1762 he presented to the King.
That he has been near forty years in the naval service ... That he was the active commissioner of the navy in the former Spanish war, and some time after the commencement of that with France, Mr. Corbett, then secretary of the Admiralty, being very infirm and frequently incapable of his duty, Mr. Clevland was made joint secretary with him, and carried on the business till the peace in 1748.
That the extensive and arduous operations of the present war have brought such an increase of business on the office of secretary of the Admiralty, that Mr. Clevland’s health and eyesight is greatly impaired by incessant application to the faithful discharge of his trust, which he flatters himself to have done to the satisfaction of his superiors, and will not fail in his endeavours to continue the same whilst his health will permit.
But having a wife and great number of children, is very anxious to make some better provision for them than his own fortune will allow of after his death.
Therefore most ardently implores his Majesty, in consideration of his long and faithful services, to grant to Mrs. Clevland such pension as shall be thought proper, upon the Irish or any other establishment, which provision for his family will add greatly to his happiness, and be the means of prolonging a life entirely devoted to the public.
Clevland sat at Sandwich and Saltash on the Admiralty interest, and he managed both boroughs for the Government, besides Barnstaple where, with Tapley in its neighbourhood, he had an interest of his own. As an official he was in the House a regular Government supporter; while as the key man in his office, highly esteemed by successive chiefs, he enjoyed very nearly the permanency of a modern civil servant. Mrs. Edward Boscawen wrote on 4 Oct. 1756 to her husband, the Admiral:
It astonished me that Lord Anson should not have wrote to you. That Clevland is angry at your anger is very likely, but that his Lordship should adopt his secretary’s resentment—that is surely very unworthy and would tend to confirm a vulgar opinion that Clevland is lord high admiral.
Clevland seemed indeed so closely identified with Anson’s administration of the Admiralty that when Anson resigned in November 1756, his dismissal was expected.
To Clevland Newcastle replied on 16 June:
I am heartily glad of it [Halifax’s appointment], upon your account, and indeed upon my own; for I dare say, he will receive most favourably any applications you shall make to him in behalf of my friends.
I long to have one hour’s discourse with you. Come to me, whenever you can; you will always find the same affectionate friend, though a useless one in, Dear Clevland, your etc.
In October 1762, when Halifax was urging Bute to bring Newcastle back into office, Clevland kept the Duke informed of developments, possibly to prepare the ground for Halifax.
He died 19 June 1763. No evidence has been found of any pension to his widow; fairly ample provision had previously been made for his eldest son. His own salary as secretary of the Admiralty had been £800 p.a. but with fees and perquisites over £2,000 net;
It may not perhaps at first appear very becoming a lord of the Treasury to solicit for granting a longer delay of payment for a public debtor, but as I really believe that it would be almost ruin to Mr. Clevland [jun.] if he were forced to discharge his father’s debt by instalments of £4,000 a year, I most earnestly hope that you may be satisfy [sic] with smaller instalments. Mr. Clevland wished to have them reduced to £2,000 a year, and shall be very glad to hear that you are able to comply with his request, but whatever indulgence you can give him, your Lordship may set down to my account, as I am very desirous of giving him every reasonable degree of favour and assistance.