Clarence succeeded to the chiefdom on the death of his cousin Jonathan Charles Frederick, Hereditary Chief of the Miskito, in July 1890.

After his downfall, he was rescued by a British warship that took him into exile together with 200 refugees to Puerto Limon, Costa Rica, and later to Jamaica.

He was granted a pension by the British government of £1,785 per annum, and remained head of the "royal house" in name until his death.

[citation needed] Clarence died after an operation at the Public General Hospital in Kingston, Jamaica on 6 January 1908.

He was succeeded as head of the royal house by his cousin Robert Frederick.