Background
Clarke was the son of Robert Clarke of Street Giles in the Wood, Devon and his wife Graciana Creemer, daughter of John Creemer of Exbourne Devon.
Clarke was the son of Robert Clarke of Street Giles in the Wood, Devon and his wife Graciana Creemer, daughter of John Creemer of Exbourne Devon.
He was a cloth merchant and manufacturer and chairman of Abingdon Railway Company. He was a Justice of the Peace for Abingdon. He was re-elected in 1880 and he held the seat until he retired from Parliament at the 1885 general election.
Clarke was a philanthropist who helped fund the building of Trinity church and the cottage hospital at Abingdon.
Clarke married firstly in 1845 Anna Maria Avis, daughter of John Avis of Minehead Somerset.
21st United Kingdom Parliament. 22nd United Kingdom Parliament]
At the 1874 general election, Clarke was elected as the Member of Parliament (Member of Parliament) for Abingdon.