William Clarke (antiquary)

William Clarke (1696–1771) was an English cleric and antiquary.

Born at Haughmond Abbey in Shropshire, he was the son of a yeoman who ho acted as confidential agent for the Kynaston family of Hardwick (Shropshire), and w for that family. Clarke was educated at Shrewsbury School and at St John's College, Cambridge. He graduated B.A. in 1715, M.A. 1719, and became a Fellow of his college on 22 January 1717.

On leaving university Clarke acted as chaplain to Adam Ottley, bishop of St. David's, and on Ottley's death in 1723 was for a short time domestic chaplain to Thomas Holles, Duke of Newcastle. In 1724 he was presented by Archbishop William Wake to the rectory of Buxted in Sussex, and in September 1727 was made prebendary of Hova Villa in Chichester Cathedral, and in 1738 canon residentiary. In 1768, he obtained permission to resign the rectory of Buxted to his son Edward.

In June 1770 Clarke was installed chancellor of Chichester (also holding the rectories of Chiddingly and Pevensey). In August of the same year he was presented to the vicarage of Amport, the vicarial residence, which he resigned to a friend who died in July 1771.

In the spring of 1771 Clarke suffered from gout, and died on 21 October of that year. He was buried in Chichester Cathedral, behind the choir.

William Hayley, a close friend of the Clarkes, wrote some memorial verses for "Mild" William Clarke and Anne his wife. Among Clarke's friends and correspondents were Hayley, Jeremiah Markland, John Taylor, Thomas Secker, and Thomas Sherlock.

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