biography text
An able lawyer of humble origin, Clarke owed his schooling to Dr. Zachary Pearce, later bishop of Rochester, who brought him to the notice of Lord Chancellor Macclesfield. Through Macclesfield he was taken up by Lord Chancellor Hardwicke, who found him ‘inferior to very few (if any) in his profession’, and recommended him to Thomas Scawen for a seat at Mitchell in 1747 as ‘not only my particular friend, but a gentleman of great merit, in all respects very acceptable to the Administration, particularly to the Duke of Newcastle and Mr. Pelham’.1Works of Thos. Newton (1782), i. 80-81; Add. 32733, f.51; 35589, f.238. A Government supporter, he died 13 Nov. 1764.