Page:A Naval Biographical Dictionary.djvu/208

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194

CLARK.

flag of Rear-Admiral Thos. Baker. Since the spring of 1833 he has been on half-pay.

He married 8 Nov. 1837, and has issue three children. Agents – Goode and Lawrence.



CLARK. (Lieutenant, 1845.)

James Charles Clark entered the Navy in 1828; passed his examination 2 May, 1839; served for several years in the East Indies on board the Pelican 16, Capts. Chas. Geo. Elers Napier and Philip Justice; and after a further employment of some months in the Rattler steam-sloop, Capt. Henry Smith, was promoted to the rank he now holds 6 Dec. 1845. He then officiated for a short time as Additional-Lieutenant of the Vernon 50, bearing the flag on the south-east coast of America of Rear-Admiral Sam. Hood Inglefield, and is at present on half-pay.



CLARK. (Lieutenant, 1819. f-p., 35; h-p., 5.)

Joseph Clark, born in 1790, has lost five brothers in the naval service of their country, of whom one was wounded, as First-Lieutenant of the Dictator 64, at the reduction of the French West-India Islands in 1794, another served in Sir Robt. Calder’s action, and a third in Sir Rich. Strachan’s.

This officer entered the Navy, 12 April, 1807, as A.B., on board the Sheldrake sloop, Capt. John Thicknesse, stationed in the Channel, where he soon afterwards attained the rating of Midshipman, and then of Master’s Mate. On removing, in July, 1808, to the Hydra 38, Capt. Geo. Mundy, we find Mr. Clark employed for two years in perpetual boat attacks on the enemy’s forts and vessels along the coast of Spain; after which he served, until May, 1816, on board the Hannibal 74, flag-ship in the Baltic of Rear-Admiral Philip Chas. Durham, Christian VII. 80, Capt. Ball, off Flushing, Bulwark 74, Rear-Admiral Durham, in the Channel, Iphigenia and Resistance frigates, both commanded in the Mediterranean by Capt. Fleetwood Broughton Reynolds Pellew, Barrosa 36, Capts. Wm. Henry Shirreff and Wm. M‘Culloch, in the East Indies, and Venerable 74, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Durham in the West Indies. While in the Resistance he witnessed, 5 Oct. 1813, an attack on the batteries of Port d’Anzo, and the capture of a convoy of 29 vessels anchored for protection under the walls; and he was present, in the Venerable, at the reduction, in 1815, of Martinique and Guadeloupe. From June, 1816, until Sept. 1818, Mr. Clark, as Admiralty-Midshipman, was further employed, on the Mediterranean, Halifax, and Home stations, in the Leander 50, Capt. Edw. Chetham (under whom he was wounded in the left arm at the battle of Algiers), Pactolus 38, Capt. Wm. Hugh Debbie, Florida 24, Capt. Chas. Sibthorp John Hawbayne, and Vengeur 74, Capt. Thos. Alexander. He then joined the Coast Blockade, and, obtaining his commission 16 Aug. 1819, . continued in the same service, with his name successively on the books of the Severn, Ramillies, and Hyperion, Capts. Wm. M‘Culloch and Wm. Jas. Mingaye, until 1829. For his exertions during that period in saving the crews and cargoes of 10 different vessels, of from 600 to 700 tons each, he was presented by the Committee at Lloyd’s with a sword, a brace of pistols, and a gold medal; as likewise with a gold medal from the King of the Netherlands, for preserving the lives of six of his Majesty’s subjects, wrecked near Beachy Head. With the exception of four years (from 1837 until Sept. 1841), Lieut. Clark has been in the Coast Guard since 2 Aug. 1830.

He married, in 1818, Louisa, youngest daughter of Capt. Geo. Rice, R.N. (who died from the wounds he had received, as First of the Valiant, on the 1st of June, 1794), grand-daughter of Capt. Geo. Burdon, R.N., who, when commanding the Drake sloop, fell in action with the notorious Paul Jones, 25 April, 1778, and niece of the late Admiral Burdon. By that lady he has issue two children.



CLARK. (Retired Commander, 1837. f-p., 17; h-p., 36.)

John Clark was born 6 Aug. 1777.

This officer entered the Navy, 1 Aug. 1794 (from Christ’s Hospital), as Ordinary, on board the Russel 74, Capts. John Willet Payne and Thos. Larcom, in which ship he shared, as Midshipman, in Lord Bridport’s action, 23 June, 1795. Until July, 1801, he next served on board L’Impétueux 78, Capts. J. W. Payne and Sampson Edwards, and Indefatigable 46, Capts. Hon. Henry Curzon and Matthew Henry Scott; and while in the latter ship, besides attending the Ferrol expedition, assisted at the capture, 22 Oct. 1800, of La Venus French frigate, of 52 guns, as also, on other occasions, of two heavy privateers, in both of which he was sent home as Prize-Master. Towards the close of 1801 he joined the Theseus 74, Capt. John Bligh, and, on subset quently proceeding to the West Indies, boarded and carried, with the boats of that ship, a French national-cutter and 13 merchant-vessels, lying in Port Jeremie, St. Domingo. On removing, in Dec. 1803, to the Hercule 74, bearing the flag of Sir John Thos. Duckworth, we. find Mr. Clark, early in 1804, serving throughout the whole of the land operations in the unfortunate attack upon Curaçoa; after which he was in succession appointed Acting-Lieutenant of the Duquesne 74, Capt. Jas. Walker, and Hound 16, Capt. Hon. Wm. Pakenham, and was confirmed, 6 April, 1805, into the Thunderer 74, Capts. Wm. Lechmere and John Talbot. During an attachment of three years and a half to the latter ship, he took part, among other stirring scenes, in Sir Robt. Calder’s action and in the battle of Trafalgar; commanded a party of seamen and marines at the siege of Gaeta; was with Sir John Thos. Duckworth at the passage of the Dardanells; and served most responsibly in the expedition against Egypt. On 26 Aug. 1809, Lieut. Clark assumed command of No. 73 gun-boat, and, simultaneously, of a division of the flotilla stationed near Fort Lillo, for the purpose of co-operating in the attack upon Walcheren, where he appears on many occasions to have been warmly engaged. He afterwards served, from Jan. 1810 to July, 1812, on board the Adamant 50, bearing the flag at Leith of Rear-Admiral Wm. Albany Otway; and, lacking ability to procure further employment, accepted his present rank 23 Oct. 1837.

Commander Clark is married.



CLARK. (Retired Commander, 1823. f-p., 24; h-p., 45.)

Richard Clark (a) died 5 Feb. 1845.

This officer entered the Navy, 30 Dec. 1776, as Midshipman, on board the Albion 74, Capt. John Carter Allen; and, continuing to serve with the same officer, in the Egmont and Gibraltar 74’s, until Oct. 1780, was present, in the Egmont, in Keppel’s action with the Comte d’Orvilliers, 27 July, 1778. He then joined the Crescent 28, Capt. Hon. Thos. Pakenham, which ship, in May, 1781, was captured by the French frigates Friponne and La Gloire, having previously, however, struck her colours, after a gallant defence, and a loss of 26 men killed and 67 wounded, to the Dutch ship Brill, of 36 guns. On regaining his liberty, Mr. Clark, in Aug. following, rejoined Capt. Pakenham in the Minerva 38; from which vessel he next removed to the Victory 100, bearing the flag of Lord Howe, whom he accompanied to the relief of Gibraltar in Oct. 1782. We subsequently find him serving as Acting-Lieutenant of the Europa 50, flag-ship of Vice-Admiral Jas. Gambler on the West India station; for two years, as Commander of the Squirrel Revenue-cutter, at the port of Looe; and, next, on board the Impregnable 98, and Queen Charlotte 100, flag-ships of Sir Rich. Bickerton and Lord Howe. On 16 Aug. 1790, he again received an acting-order as Lieutenant, in the Hussar 28, Capt. Eliab Harvey; and, on 2 Nov. in the same year, he was confirmed in the Bombay Castle 74, Capt. John Thos. Duckworth. After a further