[1][2] Clark was born in Christchurch and educated at Christchurch Boys' High School before going to Exeter College, Oxford, where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree.
When he returned to Christchurch he joined his father's auctioneering business.
[3] While captaining Canterbury, Clark encouraged and supported Arthur Sims in his early cricket career.
[5] In 1905 Clark guaranteed a bank loan of £10,000 to enable Sims and his business partner to establish a company exporting frozen meat from New Zealand.
[3] Until the late 1930s he lived at "Thorrington", a large house established by his parents with extensive gardens, on the banks of the Heathcote River, and the venue for many garden parties.