Clarke was the son of Sir Humphrey Clarke, 5th Baronet and was educated at Eton, Christ Church, Oxford, La Sorbonne, and New York University.
He founded The Baronets' Journal in 1987 and from 1993 to 1996 he was chairman of the Standing Council of the Baronetage Bankers Trust Co.
He was associate director of Swiss Bank Corp.[1] in 1992–94, underwriting member, Lloyds from 1984 to 2001, and lord of the Manor of Bibury.
Through his grandmother, Elfrida Roosevelt (Lady Clarke, wife of Sir Orme Bigland Clarke, Bt, CBE), he was related to U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt.
[4] Clarke died on 16 September 2019, eight days after celebrating his 80th birthday.