Captain Douglas Charles Clavering RN FRS (8 September 1794 – mid-1827) was an officer of the British Royal Navy and Arctic explorer.

[1] While on passage to join his ship, he struck up a close friendship with Captain Edward Sabine, who was travelling to Africa to commence a series of observations on the length of the seconds pendulum.

[1] The results of Sabine's observations were published on the return of Pheasant to England, and the Board of Longitude determined that they should be continued to the most northerly latitude which was possible to reach.

For this purpose the brig HMS Griper, which had already adapted for Arctic voyages, and used in William Parry's first expedition in 1819–20, was selected, and Clavering appointed to command her on 1 March 1823.

[1] Griper then sailed north for Spitsbergen in the Svalbard archipelago, landing on 1 June and setting up a camp of tents and huts for six men, Sabine, and his instruments.

[1] Griper set sail on 31 August, heading south along the coast through ice floes, finally reaching open sea on 13 September.

[1] In January 1825 Clavering was appointed commander of brig-sloop Redwing on the West Africa Squadron, engaged in the suppression of the slave trade.