Background
He was the eldest son of Sir Charles Mansfield Clarke, 1st Baronet of Dunham Lodge, Norfolk.
He was the eldest son of Sir Charles Mansfield Clarke, 1st Baronet of Dunham Lodge, Norfolk.
Educated at Charterhouse School, Surrey and Trinity College, Cambridge. He took his Bachelor degree in 1831, and his Master of Arts in 1835. Having entered Holy Orders Sir Charles Clarke was appointed Rector of Hanwell in Middlesex in 1847 until 1864.
He succeeded to the Baronetcy of Dunham Lodge, Norfolk on 7 September 1857.
Their eldest son was General Sir Charles Mansfield Clarke, 3rd Baronet Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order. Their second son, Frederick Clarke, was father of the 4th Baronet: Sir Orme Bigland Clarke, 4th Baronet He was a Justice of the Peace for Essex.