Clarke was born in 1903, in Stourbridge. He was educated at Repton School, and matriculated at Pembroke College in 1922. He worked as a diplomat and served as Ambassador to Italy for nine years. He helped found and was later President of the Venice in Peril Fund to help recover the city after flooding in 1966. He received two knighthoods from Britain, KCMG in 1952 (GCMG in 1962) and GCVO in 1961, and also received several high honours from Italy. He died in 1994, aged 90.