tigation evinced by Clarke bore fruit in two ways. As a theological writer he produced many works of ability, including English translations and new editions of other men's books, such as Sturm's 'Reflexions' (1804), and Fleury's 'Manners of the Israelites' (1805); a bibliographical dictionary in six volumes, in which he gives a chronological account of the most remarkable books in Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Coptic, Syriac, Chaldee, Ethiopic, Arabic, Persian, and Armenian from the infancy of printing to the beginning of the nineteenth century, with a reprint of Harwood's 'View of the Classics,' and an account of the best English translations from the classics (1803–4); a supplement in two volumes (1806) deals with the English translations in greater fulness; a concise view of the succession of sacred literature, in a chronological arrangement of authors and their works to A.D. 345 (1807) (a second volume, from A.D. 345 to the invention of printing, was published by his son. Rev. J. B. B. Clarke in 1831); 'Memoirs of the Wesley Family,' and many other works on subjects of biblical or general interest ('The Use and Abuse of Tobacco,' 1797; Baxter's 'Christian Directory Abridged,' 1804; 'The Eucharist,' 1808; 'Illness and Death of Richard Porson;' 'Clavis Biblica,' 1820; and new editions of Shuckford's 'Connexion,' 1803; and Harmor's 'Observations,' 1816). But by far the most important of his works was his commentary on the whole books of Scripture (1810-26, 8 vols., reprinted in 6 vols. 1851). This was a work of extraordinary labour and research. Its design was to combine the critical or scientific with the popular and practical. Clarke succeeded as well as any single man could hope to do. The 'Commentary' had a very wide circulation in its day, but it is little consulted now. Its theological stand-point was the orthodox evangelical, but the author on some points took positions of his own. He maintained that the serpent that tempted Eve was a baboon; he held that Judas Iscariot was saved; in regard to predestination, he threw Calvin overboard and followed Dr. John Taylor; and on the person of Jesus Christ, while maintaining his divinity, he denied his eternal sonship. On this last point he was ably replied to by a writer of his own body, Richard Treffry, jun. ('Inquiry into the Doctrine of the Eternal Son-ship of our Lord Jesus Christ').
Clarke was also employed in re-editing Rymer's 'Fœdera,' from the original compiler's massive collection of state papers. A Royal commission was appointed to take steps for this purpose, and the post of editor was offered to Clarke, and accepted in 1808. He first made an elaborate report on the whole records (which were to be found in seven different places), and then proceeded with the work of editing. The first volume, and the first part of the second volume, issued in 1818, bear his name. At last, through sheer exhaustion, he was compelled to resign. His commission accepted his resignation with great reluctance.
Clarke was the personal friend of many dignitaries of the church and of other distinguished persons. The Duke of Sussex had a high esteem for him, and they exchanged hospitalities. Clarke died from an attack of cholera, 26 Aug. 1832. In 1836 Samuel Dunn published Clarke's 'The Gospels Harmonized,' and an edition of his miscellaneous works in thirteen volumes appeared in the same year.
[An Account of the Infancy, Religious and Literary Life of Adam Clarke, LL.D., F.A.S.. &c. &c., by a member of his family, with an appendix by J. 15. B. Clarke. M.A., 3 vols. 8vo. (1833). The first volume is autobiographical, and is limited to the history of Clarke's religious life; the other volumes were written by his daughter, and the appendix is by his son. See also Everett's Adam Clarke portrayed; Etheridge's Life of Adam Clarke; Rev. Samuel Dunn's Life of Adam Clarke; Remains of Rev. Samuel Drew.]
CLARKE, ALURED (1696–1742), dean of Exeter, was the son of Alured Clarke, gentleman, of Godmanchester in Huntingdonshire, who died on 28 Oct. 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. His mother was a sister of Bishop Trimnell. His only brother was Charles Clarke (d. 1750), baron of the exchequer [q. v.] Alured's education began at St. Paul's School, and from 1712 to 1719 he held one of its exhibitions; and although his direct connection with that foundation ceased at the latter date, he showed his interest in his old school by acting as steward at its feast in 1723, and preaching before its members in 1726. 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, but his candidature was unsuccessful. This disappointment was quickly banished from his mind by his rapid rise in the church, for which he was mainly indebted to his whig relatives. He was chaplain in ordinary to George I and George II. The valuable living of Chilbolton in Hampshire
