Richard Clarke

Background

Richard Clarke was born on May 01, 1711 in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. He was the son of William and Hannah (Appleton) Clarke of Boston and not, as sometimes stated, of Francis Clarke of Salem.

Education

Richard graduated from Harvard in 1729.

Career

Richard Clarke founded his own firm at the time of the Revolution with his two sons, Jonathan and Isaac, under the name of Richard Clarke & Sons. Jonathan was in London in 1773 and Richard Clarke & Sons were named as factors for the East India Company and were among the consignees of the tea which was thrown into Boston Harbor in December of that year. On November 2, they had received a letter signed “O. C. ,” ordering them to appear at the Liberty Tree the following Wednesday at noon to make a public resignation of their commission as factors. On Wednesday morning some of the other consignees, including Thomas Hutchinson, Benjamin Faneuil, and Joshua Winslow, met the Clarkes at their warehouse in King St. A mob of about five hundred had gathered at the Liberty Tree and, as the merchants did not appear, a considerable number gathered in front of the warehouse. Nine of them went in as emissaries to induce the merchants to yield, and, when they refused to do so, the mob attempted to storm the building but was repulsed.

When Jonathan arrived from England there was a gathering of friends at the Clarkes’ house in School St. to welcome him, which was the occasion of another attack by the mob. The Clarke firm at first refused to sign the Non-Importation Agreement, but afterward consented. Richard Clarke was also one of the signers of the Address to General Gage. The family had become extremely unpopular with the Whigs, and when, on one occasion, Isaac went to Plymouth to collect some debts, he was attacked and forced to make a midnight escape.

In view of the growing difficulties in Boston, Clarke decided to go to England also, and after a remarkable voyage of only twenty-one days landed there on December 24, 1775, and, until his death, lived at Copley’s house. With one of his sons he joined the Loyalist Club of London. The family was on the American proscription lists, but in his will Clarke disposed of considerable property, including Bank of England stock and American securities.

Achievements

• Richard Clarke became one of the most prominent merchants in Boston. He was remembered for his involvement in the pre-Revolutionary difficulties about the tax on tea.

Connections

On May 3, 1733 Clarke married Elizabeth Winslow. It is probable that she was the Elizabeth, daughter of Edward Winslow. Both Richard Clarke and his wife were of distinguished ancestry and occupied high social position. They had two sons, Jonathan and Isaac, and four daughters. Susannah Farnum Clarke, one of his daughters, had married John Singleton Copley, the artist, in 1769 and had gone to live with him in London.

Father:

William Clarke

Mother:

Hannah (Appleton) Clarke

Spouse:

Elizabeth Winslow

Daughter:

Susannah Farnum Clarke

Son:

Isaac Clarke

Son:

Jonathan Clarke

References

• The Loyalists of Massachusetts: And the Other Side of the American Revolution (Classic Reprint)