Alured Clarke (priest)

Alured Clarke
Alured Clarke, 1741 portrait by James Wills
Born	1669
Died	(1742-05-31)31 May 1742
Nationality	British
Education	St Paul's School, London
Alma mater	Corpus Christi College, Cambridge
Occupation	chaplain
Known for	Dean of Exeter

Alured Clarke (1696–1742) was Dean of Exeter between 1741 and 1742.

He was the son of Alured Clarke, of Godmanchester in Huntingdonshire, who died on 28 October 1744, aged 86, by his second wife, Ann, fourth daughter of the Rev. Charles Trimnell, rector of Ripton-Abbotts, in the same county, who died on 26 May 1755, aged 88. Bishop Charles Trimnell was his uncle, and his only brother was Charles Clarke (died 1750), baron of the exchequer.

Clarke's education began at St Paul's School, London and from 1712 to 1719 he held one of its exhibitions. On 1 April 1713 he was admitted a pensioner at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, taking the degrees of B.A. 1716, M.A. 1720, D.D. 1728, and being elected to a fellowship in 1718. About 1720 he contested the post of Professor of Rhetoric at Gresham College, unsuccessfully. He rose rapidly in the church, by the influence of Whig relatives: he was chaplain in ordinary to George I and George II. The living of Chilbolton in Hampshire and a prebendal stall in Winchester Cathedral were bestowed on him in May 1723. He was installed as prebendary of Westminster in July 1731, and as dean of Exeter in January 1741, with a prebend in the Exeter Cathedral. His cathedral dignities, and the position of deputy clerk of the closet, were retained by him until his death.

Clarke was afflicted with illness for many years before his death. In 1732, he thought of applying for the position of British consul at Algiers, for the benefit of the climate. But he stayed England, and gradually wasted away. He died on 31 May 1742. He was buried, without a monument, in Westminster Abbey.