Military Career
Leaving Eton College in 1758, Clarke became ensign in the 50th Foot in 1759, and served in Germany under the Marquess of Granby. In 1760 he was promoted lieutenant, and in 1763 he was made captain in the 52nd Foot, where he served until 1767, when he transferred to the 5th Foot, stationed in Ireland. In 1771, Clarke obtained his majority in the 54th Foot, and promoted, lieutenant-colonel in 1775, serving in America.
In 1782 he became lieutenant-governor of Jamaica; this led to him being recommended to George III in 1790 as a suitable person for the lieutenant-governorship of Quebec.
In 1795 he was sent to India with secret instructions to interrupt the voyage at the Cape of Good Hope where he and his force defeated a Dutch army at Wynberg. On 16 September he accepted their surrender and spent the next two months on arranging administrative and defence matters before proceeding to India. On arrival in India he became Governor-General of Madras. Then in 1797 he was briefly Governor-General of Bengal.
In September 1797 he was appointed Governor-General of India, and from 1798 was commander-in-chief of the British forces there, a post he retained until 1801. He attained the rank of field-marshal in 1830 when William IV came to the throne.
Read more about this topic: Alured Clarke
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