The Dictionary of Australasian Biography/Clarke, William
Clarke, William, J.P., son of William Joseph Sayers Clarke by his marriage with Miss Mary Ann Welsford, was born in Melbourne on June 26th, 1843, and married there on June 25th, 1862, to Miss Mary Ann Mortimer. He is a Justice of the Peace for the colonies of New South Wales and Victoria, and was M.L.A. for Orange in the former colony, but was defeated at the general election in 1889. Mr. Clarke was Minister of Justice in the administration of Sir Henry Parkes, from Jan. 20th, 1887, to Jan. 10th, 1889. He has held important positions in connection with financial institutions in the colonies, and is now Managing Director in London of the Standard Bank of Australia, Limited. Mr. Clarke was a member of the New South Wales Commission in London for the Colonial and Indian Exhibition of 1886.