Clarke was born in Kingstown, now called Dún Laoghaire, the port of County Dublin.

While at the Herald, he authored the 1874 Central Park Zoo Escape hoax, under the direction of managing editor T.B.

He wrote various plays, published poetry, and in 1925, his autobiography: My Life and Memories.

[3] His comedy "Her Majesty, the Girl Queen of Nordenmark" ran for seventy-eight performances in 1900 at the Manhattan Theatre.

[4] His friendship with the Japanese chemist Jōkichi Takamine was reflected in a deep interest in that country.