William John Clarke was born around 1819 in Raleigh, North Carolina, to William and Ann Maria Clarke. He graduated from the University of North Carolina in 1841 and received a Master’s degree from the university three years later. He took part in the Mexican American war, receiving a commission as captain of Company I of the 12^th United States Infantry in April 1847. He was severely wounded during the war, and he received a brevet promotion to major for his gallantry. He mustered out in 1848 and returned to Raleigh.

 

He married author Mary Bayard Devereux in 1848, and they had at least four children: Francis, born around 1849; William, born around 1850; Mary, born around 1854; and Thomas, born around 1859. He worked as a lawyer, and by 1850, he owned $7,375 of real estate. He supported the Democratic Party, and he ran unsuccessfully for a seat in Congress in 1849. As he explained to voters, “I hold that the Constitution of the United States should be construed strictly according to its true intent and meaning.” He insisted that “Congress cannot constitutionally pass any law restricting or prohibiting slavery in the States or Territories.” He served as state comptroller from 1850 until 1855. He moved to San Antonio, Texas, around 1857, and he served as president of the San Antonio and Mexican Gulf Railroad.

 

In July 1861, he received a commission as colonel of the 24^th North Carolina Infantry. According to his service records, he was 5 feet, 7 inches tall, with dark hair and grey eyes. The regiment took part in the Seven Days’ Battles, the Battle of Malvern Hill, the Battle of Antietam, the Battle of Fredericksburg, and the siege of Petersburg. His shoulder was shattered in the Battle of Drewry’s Bluff on May 15, 1864, and he spent the next several months recovering. Union forces captured him near Dinwiddie Court House, Virginia, on January 5, 1865, and imprisoned him at Fort Delaware. He was released on July 24, 1865.

 

He settled in New Bern, North Carolina, after the war and resumed his work as a lawyer. By 1870, he owned $2,200 of real estate and $7,000 of personal property. He supported the Republican Party after the war. He was elected to the state senate, but he resigned before taking his seat in order to serve as judge of the superior court. He began publishing The Signal, a Republican newspaper, in December 1879. He died in New Bern on January 23, 1886.

 

Image: William J. Clarke (Wenderoth, Taylor, & Brown, photographer, Colonel William John Clarke of Co. E., 24^th North Carolina Infantry Regiment in unfirom / Wenderoth, Taylor & Brown, 912-914 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, United States, available from https://www.loc.gov/item/2022632991)

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