Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Clarke, John (1662-1723)
CLARKE, JOHN (1662–1723), jesuit, called the apostle of Belgium, was born in Kilkenny, Ireland, on 17 March 1661–2, and made his humanity studies at St. Omer's College. He entered the Society of Jesus at Watten in 1681, and became a professed father in 1699. In 1690 he was a tertian at Ghent; in 1693 a missioner and preacher; in 1696 camp missioner at Ghent; and in 1699, and for several subsequent years, missioner at Watten. He was frequently engaged as camp missioner to the English, Scotch, and Irish soldiers in the Low Countries. He died at Ghent on 1 May 1723. The annual letters of the society, between 1690 and 1718, abound in reports of his labours, which are said to have been attended with constant and striking miracles.
[Foley's Records, v. 195–214, vii. 133, 1191 seq., 1202 seq., 1230; Oliver's Jesuit Collections, p. 69.]