Samuel Clarke 1626-1701

Samuel CLARKE 1626-1701

Biographical Note

Born at Shotwick, Cheshire, son of Samuel Clarke (1599-1682), nonconformist minister and author. BA Peterhouse, Cambridge 1644, and fellow of Pembroke College. Vicar of Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire 1653, rector of Grendon under Wood, Buckinghamshire 1657; ejected 1662. In 1665 he had established a nonconformist congregation at Upper Winchendon, under the patronage of Philip, Lord Wharton, and over the succeeding decades he continued in independent ministry in and around that area, moving to High Wycombe in the 1690s. He published numerous popular and well-regarded books of scriptural interpretation and commentary from the 1680s onwards, including annotated Biblical texts and concordances.

Books

Clarke's will has no specific mention of books, leaving the residue of his estate to his daughter Anne, though he did direct that any proceeds from "any and every future impressions of my Annotations upon the Holy Scripture" be divided among his family. His library was sold by auction in High Wycombe, beginning 10 June 1701.

Characteristic Markings

None of Clarke's books have been identified.

Sources

• A catalogue of books ... contained in the library of the late reverend Mr. S. Clarke, (1701), ESTC T6459.
• Wilson, David. "Clarke, Samuel (1626–1701), nonconformist minister and biblical scholar." Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.