He was born in Bailieboro, County Cavan, Ireland in 1850, the son of merchant Richard Clarke, and came to Toronto in 1864 after the death of his father. He apprenticed as a printer with the Toronto Globe, later working with The Toronto Mail. In 1872, he was one of the leaders of a printers' strike in the city.[1] Clarke was the editor and publisher of the Sentinel, a weekly newspaper associated with the Orange Order, which was widely distributed throughout North America between 1877 and 1896.[2] In 1884, he married Charlotte Elizabeth Scott. He also served as the manager of the Excelsior Life Insurance Company of Toronto.
He died at home in Toronto in 1905 from heart failure. He had been suffering from pneumonia in the weeks leading up to his death.[1]
References
^ abSUDDEN DEATH OF E. F. GLARES, M.P.: Was Recovering From an Attack of Pneumonia FAILURE OF THE HEART Succumbed Within an Hour of the Seizure Parliament Marks Regret by Adjourning After Brief Speeches by Mr. R, L, Borden and Sir Wm. Mulock--Sketch of His Career Premier Whitney's Tribute A Useful Career
The Globe (1844-1936); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]. 04 Mar 1905: 1.