Her father was an Irish Catholic and a professional actor while her mother was the Protestant daughter of a merchant from Shrewsbury.
Clarke got a position as a governess for the Brownrigg family where she met the doctor who became her husband.
[1][2][3][4][5] Clarke wrote poetry for various periodicals in Dublin including Metropolitan Magazine, The Comic Offering and Athenaeum.
Clarke and held salons in her home in North Great George's Street.
She also remained in touch with the theater and produced the play The Irishwoman in 1819 at the Theatre Royal, Dublin.