Born in New York City on March 17, 1815,[1][2] Clarke was a member of one of the city's oldest and most prominent families.[3] He graduated from Geneva College in 1835, studied law, and was admitted to the bar.[4]
From 1836 to 1840 he was attaché to Lewis Cass, United States Minister to France.[5] While in France he was a student in the Royal Cavalry School.[6]
Upon returning to the United States, Clarke joined the United States Army, receiving a commission as a second lieutenant in the 8th Infantry in March, 1841. He transferred to the 2nd Dragoons in September, 1841. During his service Clarke took part in the Seminole Wars in Florida.[7][8]
Clarke resigned from the army in December, 1843 and practiced law in New York City and Westchester County.[9] Also in December, 1843 he married Alletta Remsen Lawrence, a member of another prominent New York family.[10]
He was an unsuccessful Whig candidate for election in 1852 to the Thirty-third Congress.[11] In 1854 he was elected as an Opposition Party candidate to the Thirty-fourth Congress, holding office from March 4, 1855, to March 3, 1857.[12] He declined renomination as a Republican in 1856 and resumed practicing law.[13]
At the start of the American Civil War, Clarke went to Washington, D.C. to offer his services. He was commissioned as a colonel, and was an organizer of the 1st New York Cavalry Regiment (Lincoln Cavalry), which was commanded by Carl Schurz, Clarke, and then Andrew T. McReynolds.[14][15][16]
In mid-1861 there were news accounts indicating that Clarke would be commissioned a brigadier general and assigned to command a school for cavalry in Westchester County. This plan does not seem to have been carried out, since there are no further references to Clarke's promotion or the operation of a cavalry school in Westchester County.[17][18][19][20][21]
In retirement Clarke lived in England for several years.[22] He later resided in Florida during the winter and an island on Schroon Lake, New York during the summer.[23] He died on June 20, 1884, at his summer home, Isola Bella, in Schroon Lake.[24][25] He was interred in a vault at First Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Newtown, New York.[26]
His name sometimes appears as "Clark" in contemporary news accounts and other records.[27][28][29][30]
