Edward Clarke (MP for Norwich)

Edward Clarke (died 1723) was an English politician, son of Rev Samuel Clarke (d.1692) rector of Raynham, Norfolk and Katherine Symonds (d.1686) of Stody, a member of the Norfolk gentry and a descendant of Member of Parliament and English courtier, Sir Anthony Lee by his first wife, Margaret Wyatt.

A Whig Alderman and a worsted weaver, Clarke was elected mayor in 1700 and MP for Norwich in 1701 but defeated in the August 1702 and in the November 1703 elections.

Clarke was buried in St Andrew's parish in Norwich on 17 November 1723, his will was proved on 24 January 1724.

He was the father of theologian and philosopher, Samuel Clarke to whom he left some properties in Briston, Norfolk. Clarke's other children were John Clarke, Mary Gough and Elizabeth Skipper.

Edward Clarke was a remote relative of Nathaniel Symonds (c.1648-1720), MP for Great Yarmouth in 1709-10.

Clarke's paternal grandfather may have been Dutch merchant, Jacob de Clarke who lived in St-Stephen's parish in Norwich. Jacob de Clarke was the father of Samuel de Clarke who was born in about March 1606-7 and christened in St-Michael Coslany's parish in Norwich. The future rector of Raynham, Samuel Clarke was admitted sizar at Emmanuel College, Cambridge in about 1619, may support the theory that the two Samuels are one and the same.

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