William Clarke (apothecary)
Encyclopedia
William Clarke was an apothecary
who provided lodgings for a young Isaac Newton
whilst he attended King's School in Grantham
.
William was baptised on April 23, 1609. According to his will, he had a brother Joseph, but little else is known about his early life. William Clarke married twice, first to an unknown woman who bore him two children - Joseph and William. His second marriage was to Katherine Babington, widow, who was from the same line as Anthony Babington
. Katherine had several children from a previous marriage to Edward Storer, including daughters Katherine and Anne as well as sons Edward and Arthur Storer
. Together, Katherine and William had two more children named John and Martha. All of his sons except John followed him into the apothecary trade.
During the English Civil War
, William sided with the parliamentarians
. The town of Grantham was captured by Royalists in March, 1643 and on April 11 he was indicted for high treason. On May 22, 1643, however the town was recaptured by Oliver Cromwell
and Clarke was released. Following the war William attained wealth and landholdings, but lost much of his fortune following the restoration
.
In 1654, William provided boarding to Isaac Newton
as he would be attending King's School with Edward and Arthur Storer. Newton's mother remained in Woolsthorpe-by-Colsterworth
, which was about eight miles away from the Clarke residence. Many of Newton's biographers have noted that it was the lessons learned from Clarke that sparked Newton's interest in chemistry.
Clarke eventually retired to Loughborough
in Leicestershire
, leaving his business to his son, William. William apparently had some tensions with his family as his 1671 will
contained a clause stating that: "If any be not thanken (sic) that person or persons shall have none".
According the Clarke's grandson, Ralph Clarke, also an apothecary in Grantham, Newton left signs of his presence in the garret where he slept in the apothecary’s house on Grantham’s High Street: he carved his name into the boards, and drew charcoal drawings of birds and beasts, men and ships, and abstract shapes on the walls. Newton was said to have had 'a passion' for Clarke's step-daughter, Catherine Storer (later Mrs. Vincent).
Apothecary
Apothecary is a historical name for a medical professional who formulates and dispenses materia medica to physicians, surgeons and patients — a role now served by a pharmacist and some caregivers....
who provided lodgings for a young Isaac Newton
Isaac Newton
Sir Isaac Newton PRS was an English physicist, mathematician, astronomer, natural philosopher, alchemist, and theologian, who has been "considered by many to be the greatest and most influential scientist who ever lived."...
whilst he attended King's School in Grantham
The King's School, Grantham
The King's School is a British grammar school located in the market town of Grantham, in Lincolnshire, England, and one of the oldest schools in the UK.-History:...
.
William was baptised on April 23, 1609. According to his will, he had a brother Joseph, but little else is known about his early life. William Clarke married twice, first to an unknown woman who bore him two children - Joseph and William. His second marriage was to Katherine Babington, widow, who was from the same line as Anthony Babington
Anthony Babington
Anthony Babington was convicted of plotting the assassination of Elizabeth I of England and conspiring with the imprisoned Mary, Queen of Scots...
. Katherine had several children from a previous marriage to Edward Storer, including daughters Katherine and Anne as well as sons Edward and Arthur Storer
Arthur Storer
Arthur Storer was America's first colonial astronomer. He came to Calvert County, Maryland, from Lincolnshire, England. He was among the first observers to sight and record data about a magnificent comet that passed over Patuxent skies in 1682. Storer's work shows up in a number of Newton's...
. Together, Katherine and William had two more children named John and Martha. All of his sons except John followed him into the apothecary trade.
During the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
, William sided with the parliamentarians
Parliament of England
The Parliament of England was the legislature of the Kingdom of England. In 1066, William of Normandy introduced a feudal system, by which he sought the advice of a council of tenants-in-chief and ecclesiastics before making laws...
. The town of Grantham was captured by Royalists in March, 1643 and on April 11 he was indicted for high treason. On May 22, 1643, however the town was recaptured by Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
and Clarke was released. Following the war William attained wealth and landholdings, but lost much of his fortune following the restoration
English Restoration
The Restoration of the English monarchy began in 1660 when the English, Scottish and Irish monarchies were all restored under Charles II after the Interregnum that followed the Wars of the Three Kingdoms...
.
In 1654, William provided boarding to Isaac Newton
Isaac Newton
Sir Isaac Newton PRS was an English physicist, mathematician, astronomer, natural philosopher, alchemist, and theologian, who has been "considered by many to be the greatest and most influential scientist who ever lived."...
as he would be attending King's School with Edward and Arthur Storer. Newton's mother remained in Woolsthorpe-by-Colsterworth
Woolsthorpe-by-Colsterworth
Woolsthorpe-by-Colsterworth is a hamlet in the South Kesteven district of Lincolnshire, England. It is probably best known as the birthplace of Sir Isaac Newton....
, which was about eight miles away from the Clarke residence. Many of Newton's biographers have noted that it was the lessons learned from Clarke that sparked Newton's interest in chemistry.
Clarke eventually retired to Loughborough
Loughborough
Loughborough is a town within the Charnwood borough of Leicestershire, England. It is the seat of Charnwood Borough Council and is home to Loughborough University...
in Leicestershire
Leicestershire
Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...
, leaving his business to his son, William. William apparently had some tensions with his family as his 1671 will
Will (law)
A will or testament is a legal declaration by which a person, the testator, names one or more persons to manage his/her estate and provides for the transfer of his/her property at death...
contained a clause stating that: "If any be not thanken (sic) that person or persons shall have none".
According the Clarke's grandson, Ralph Clarke, also an apothecary in Grantham, Newton left signs of his presence in the garret where he slept in the apothecary’s house on Grantham’s High Street: he carved his name into the boards, and drew charcoal drawings of birds and beasts, men and ships, and abstract shapes on the walls. Newton was said to have had 'a passion' for Clarke's step-daughter, Catherine Storer (later Mrs. Vincent).
Sources
- E.T. Bell, Men of Mathematics (1937, Simon and Schuster)
- H. Eves, An Introduction to the History of Mathematics (1976).
- V. Horry, The Clark Family History. (not published)
- J. D. Trabue, "Ann and Arthur Storer of Calvert County, Maryland, Friends of Sir Isaac Newton, With the Descendants of Clarke Skinner of Calvert County" (2004).