Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Clarke, James Fernandez
CLARKE, JAMES FERNANDEZ (1812–1876) medical writer, was born at Olney, Buckinghamshire, in 1812. His father and grandfather were prosperous lace merchants. He was much influenced by the non-conformist associations of Olney, and when a schoolboy in London went regularly to hear Edward Irving preach. After one or two brief apprenticeships, in 1828 he was placed under C. Snitch, a general practitioner, in Brydges Street, Covent Garden. Here he managed to get the run of Cadell's library in the Strand, and picked up a large general acquaintance with literature and literary people. In October 1833 he entered as a student at Dermott's Medical School in Gerrard Street, Soho. For a time he acted as Dermott's amanuensis, and afterwards aided Ryan in the short-lived 'London Medical and Surgical Journal.' In 1834 a report by Clarke of a case of Liston's pleased the latter, and led to his introducing him to Wakley, editor of the 'Lancet,' who was then in want of help and engaged Clarke at once. He became a skilled clinical reporter at hospitals, and also was for many years the reporter of numerous medical societies, encountering in both capacities much opposition, but his good judgment kept him out of most of the broils in which the 'Lancet' was involved. For thirty years he was in the service of the 'Lancet,' but at the same time carried on a laborious practice in Gerrard Street, having become a member of the College of Surgeons in 1837. In 1852, 160 members of the medical profession presented him with an inkstand and a service of plate worth 200l. as a testimonial for his literary services to the profession.
Clarke was a very hard worker, a model of punctuality, rarely left town or took a holiday, and lived in the same house for nearly forty years. He had a great fund of anecdote. On ceasing to write for the 'Lancet,' after more than thirty years' service, he published his reminiscences in the 'Medical Times and Gazette.' These were brought out in 1874 as 'Autobiographical Recollections of the Medical Profession.' They give many valuable records of medical men and the state of society in his time, including also numerous anecdotes of literary men and public characters. He died on 6 July 1875
[Medical Times and Gazette and Lancet, 17 July 1875; Clarke's Autobiographical Recollections, 1874; see also British Medical Journal, 1875, ii. 115, 149, in reference to Clarke's dismissal from the Lancet, 'caused by an act impossible to be passed over.']