Education
Born in Winterfield, Virginia, Clarke attended the common schools. He studied law in Franklin, Kentucky, and graduated from the Lexington Law School in 1831.
Diplomat lawyer politician representative
Born in Winterfield, Virginia, Clarke attended the common schools. He studied law in Franklin, Kentucky, and graduated from the Lexington Law School in 1831.
He moved to Kentucky in 1823. He was admitted to the bar in 1833 and commenced practice in Franklin, Kentucky. Clarke was elected as a Democrat to the Thirtieth Congress (March 4, 1847 – March 3, 1849).
He served as delegate to the State constitutional convention in 1849.
He was an unsuccessful Democratic nominee for Governor in 1855. He was appointed by President Buchanan as Minister to Guatemala, and was also accredited to Honduras, and served from January 7, 1858, until his death in Guatemala, March 17, 1860.
He was interred in the State Cemetery, Frankfort, Kentucky.
He served as member of the Kentucky House of Representatives in 1841 and 1842.