Sir William Clerke, 8th Baronet
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Sir William Henry Clerke, 8th Baronet (25 November 1751 – 10 April 1818) was rector of Bury, Lancashire.
Clerke, of an old Buckinghamshire family, was born 25 November 1751, and received his later education at All Souls College, Oxford
. In 1778 he succeeded to the baronetcy
on the death of his elder brother Francis, who was the favourite aide-de-camp to General John Burgoyne
in North America, and was mortally wounded at Saratoga. When dying, Francis asked Burgoyne to endeavour, on his return to England, to procure preferment for his brother, who had taken orders. The twelfth Earl of Derby
, at the instance no doubt of General Burgoyne, who had married the earl's aunt, presented Clerke to the rectory of Bury, to which he was instituted 6 February 1778, taking his Bachelor of Civil Law
degree at Oxford in the October following. He paid much attention to the physical health of his parishioners, vaccinating the children of the poor, and even going to Rochdale
once a week for a considerable time to perform the same operation. On the occasion of an outbreak of fever he issued, in 1790, 'Thoughts upon the Means of Preserving the Health of the Poor by Prevention and Suppression of Epidemic Fever,' a pamphlet containing useful sanitary suggestions, and a long letter on its subject-matter by the philanthropic Dr. Thomas Percival
.
At a time when a French invasion was feared he printed 'A Sermon preached in the Parish Church of Bury on the 18th October 1798, on the occasion of the colours being presented to the Bury Loyal Association,' &c.,and 'A Serious Address to the People of this Country.' Appended to the sermon was the speech made on the reception of the colours by the lieutenant-colonel commandant of the Bury volunteers, the first Sir Robert Peel
, whose second wife was Clerke's sister. Another of Clerke's publications is his undated 'Penitens, or the Dying Tradesman, extracted from the books of a late pious writer. To which is added Prayers,' etc.
Clerke was fond of agricultural pursuits and enterprises, and dealt extensively in corn, malt, and lime, borrowing largely in the course of his undertakings. He was a simple-minded man, was fleeced by his subordinates, and at last his living was sequestered for the benefit of his creditors. He died 10 April 1818, in the Fleet prison
, where he was incarcerated for debt. In May 1792 he married Byzantia, daughter of Thomas Cartwright of Aynhoe. His eldest son, William Henry, became ninth baronet, and served in the Peninsular War
and at the Battle of Waterloo
.
Clerke, of an old Buckinghamshire family, was born 25 November 1751, and received his later education at All Souls College, Oxford
All Souls College, Oxford
The Warden and the College of the Souls of all Faithful People deceased in the University of Oxford or All Souls College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England....
. In 1778 he succeeded to the baronetcy
Clerke Baronets
There have been three Baronetcies created for members of the Clerke family. One creation is extant as of 2008.The Clerke Baronetcy, of Hitcham in the County of Buckingham, was created in the Baronetage of England on 13 July 1660 for John Clerke. He was a descendant of Sir John Clerke , who in 1513...
on the death of his elder brother Francis, who was the favourite aide-de-camp to General John Burgoyne
John Burgoyne
General John Burgoyne was a British army officer, politician and dramatist. He first saw action during the Seven Years' War when he participated in several battles, mostly notably during the Portugal Campaign of 1762....
in North America, and was mortally wounded at Saratoga. When dying, Francis asked Burgoyne to endeavour, on his return to England, to procure preferment for his brother, who had taken orders. The twelfth Earl of Derby
Edward Smith-Stanley, 12th Earl of Derby
Edward Smith-Stanley, 12th Earl of Derby PC , styled Lord Strange between 1771 and 1776, was a British peer and politician of the late 18th and early 19th centuries...
, at the instance no doubt of General Burgoyne, who had married the earl's aunt, presented Clerke to the rectory of Bury, to which he was instituted 6 February 1778, taking his Bachelor of Civil Law
Bachelor of Civil Law
Bachelor of Civil Law is the name of various degrees in law conferred by English-language universities. Historically, it originated as a postgraduate degree in the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, but many universities now offer the BCL as an undergraduate degree...
degree at Oxford in the October following. He paid much attention to the physical health of his parishioners, vaccinating the children of the poor, and even going to Rochdale
Rochdale
Rochdale is a large market town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies amongst the foothills of the Pennines on the River Roch, north-northwest of Oldham, and north-northeast of the city of Manchester. Rochdale is surrounded by several smaller settlements which together form the Metropolitan...
once a week for a considerable time to perform the same operation. On the occasion of an outbreak of fever he issued, in 1790, 'Thoughts upon the Means of Preserving the Health of the Poor by Prevention and Suppression of Epidemic Fever,' a pamphlet containing useful sanitary suggestions, and a long letter on its subject-matter by the philanthropic Dr. Thomas Percival
Thomas Percival
Thomas Percival FRS FRSE FSA was an English physician and author, best known for crafting perhaps the first modern code of medical ethics...
.
At a time when a French invasion was feared he printed 'A Sermon preached in the Parish Church of Bury on the 18th October 1798, on the occasion of the colours being presented to the Bury Loyal Association,' &c.,and 'A Serious Address to the People of this Country.' Appended to the sermon was the speech made on the reception of the colours by the lieutenant-colonel commandant of the Bury volunteers, the first Sir Robert Peel
Sir Robert Peel, 1st Baronet
Sir Robert Peel, 1st Baronet , was a British politician and industrialist and one of early textile manufacturers of the Industrial Revolution...
, whose second wife was Clerke's sister. Another of Clerke's publications is his undated 'Penitens, or the Dying Tradesman, extracted from the books of a late pious writer. To which is added Prayers,' etc.
Clerke was fond of agricultural pursuits and enterprises, and dealt extensively in corn, malt, and lime, borrowing largely in the course of his undertakings. He was a simple-minded man, was fleeced by his subordinates, and at last his living was sequestered for the benefit of his creditors. He died 10 April 1818, in the Fleet prison
Fleet Prison
Fleet Prison was a notorious London prison by the side of the Fleet River in London. The prison was built in 1197 and was in use until 1844. It was demolished in 1846.- History :...
, where he was incarcerated for debt. In May 1792 he married Byzantia, daughter of Thomas Cartwright of Aynhoe. His eldest son, William Henry, became ninth baronet, and served in the Peninsular War
Peninsular War
The Peninsular War was a war between France and the allied powers of Spain, the United Kingdom, and Portugal for control of the Iberian Peninsula during the Napoleonic Wars. The war began when French and Spanish armies crossed Spain and invaded Portugal in 1807. Then, in 1808, France turned on its...
and at the Battle of Waterloo
Battle of Waterloo
The Battle of Waterloo was fought on Sunday 18 June 1815 near Waterloo in present-day Belgium, then part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands...
.