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A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Clarke, Thomas Jordaine

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1656010A Naval Biographical Dictionary — Clarke, Thomas JordaineWilliam Richard O'Byrne

CLARKE. (Captain, 1841. f-p., 15; h-p., 5.)

Thomas Jordaine Clarke, born 25 Nov. 1813, is son of the late Wm. Stanley Clarke, Esq.

This officer entered the Royal Naval College at Portsmouth in Feb. 1827; and embarked, 18 Dec. 1828, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Madagascar 76, Capts. Sir Robt. Cavendish Spencer and Edm. Lyons, on the Mediterranean station, where he attained the rating of Midshipman 18 Doc. 1829, and continued to serve, until 1834, on board the Ganges 84, Capt. Geo. Burdett, Ferret 10, Capt. Hon. Edw. Thornton Wodehouse, and St. Vincent 120, flag-ship of Sir Henry Hotham, – by whom he appears to have been lent, for some months in 1832-3, to his old ship the Madagascar. Having passed his examination 11 Feb. 1883, he was promoted, from the Nimrod 20, Capt. John M‘Dougall, to a Lieutenancy in the Action 26, Capt. Lord Edw. Russell, on the South American station, 12 Nov. 1834; after which he joined, 12 Oct. 1835, the Dublin 50, flag-ship in the Pacific of Sir Graham Eden Hamond, and, 14 Nov. 1837, the Melville 74, as Flag-Lieutenant at the Cape of Hope to the Hon. Geo. Elliot. Being advanced to the command, 3 June, 1840, of the Columbine sloop, Capt. Clarke bore an able and conspicuous part, until Oct. 1841, in the various operations of the Chinese campaign, including the capture of Chuenpee and Tycocktow, the first and second reduction of Canton, the taking of Amoy and Chinghae, and the re-occupation of Chusan.[1] Since the last-mentioned date – having been advanced to the rank he now holds on 8 of the previous June – he has been unemployed. Agent – John P. Muspratt.


  1. Vide Gaz. 1841, pp. 1162, 1164, 1503, 1504, 1505, 2506, and Gaz. 1842, pp. 43, 393, 396.