Sir Robert Bowcher Clarke

Son of Robert B. Clarke of Eldridge, Barbados, and Elizabeth, daughter of Benjamin Waple, merchant of London. Educated at Codrington College, Barbados and Trinity College Cambridge (LL.B., 1827). Called to the bar, Inner Temple, 1827. Appointed as Solicitor-General, Barbados, 1837-42 and subsequently Chief Justice of Barbados, 1841-74 and Chief Justice of St. Lucia, 1850-59. Knighted 1840, 'for his services in connection with the emancipation of the slaves'. K.C.B., 1848. Died May 9, 1881, at Eldridge, Chislehurst, Kent.

Married Emily Maxwell Spooner, at the Old Church, St. Pancras, London, 12 November 1829.

By 1881 Robert and Emily Clarke were living in England, at 151 South Hill Road, Chislehurst, Kent, with their son Robert Bowcher, Hannah Maria Farre (Emily's sister) and 4 female servants.

Their son William Senhouse Clarke (1848-1937) was an army officer: commander of the 1st Battalion Worcestershire Regiment, 1895-99, and served and fought in numerous wars across the British empire, including returning to active duty in World War I.

Emily Spooner Clarke (daughter) married Major Charles Edward Michel (1810-1893) in St John parish church, Barbados, 19 November 1850. For their marriage settlement see the Fane archives. Michel was brother of Sir John Michel (1804-1886), army officer and, among other posts, commander of the forces in Ireland 1875-1880. He was made Field Marshall in 1885. There are photographic portraits of Emily and Charles Michel, taken by Camille Silvy, 20 May 1862 in the National Portrait Gallery.

In the controversies over the functioning of the Apprenticeship system in Barbados, Clarke attempted to defend the House of Assembly's right to maintain legislative control over the apprenticeship while arguing, as Solicitor-General, for the acceptance of Lord Glenelg's proposals for the early termination of apprenticeship. Clarke was regarded as one of the more liberal-minded of Barbadian Assembly men.

Edward Walford, The County Families of the United Kingdom; or, Royal Manual of the Titled & Untitled Aristocracy of Great Britain and Ireland (London, 1860), p. 125. J. A. Venn, compiler, Alumni cantabrigienses, Part II, vol II (Cambridge University Press, 1944); The Times, 25 June 1881 (notice of proving of will).

England. Select Marriages, 1538-1973, Ancestry.com.

1881 Census England and Wales. TNA, RG11/857, p. 34; Ancestry.com

Worcestershire Regiment: biographical notes on W. S. Clarke

Lincolnshire Archives, 1-FANE/5/21/4 (and related documents): Fane archives, accessed 4 February 2014; for Sir John Michel: see Oxford Dictionary of National Biography; National Portrait Gallery, Ax58035 and Ax58037.

Hilary McD Beckles, A History of Barbados (2nd edn., Cambridge University Press, 2006), pp. 131, 133; see also Sir Robert H. Schomburgk, The History of Barbados (London, 1848), pp. 482-3.