John Daniel Clarke was born in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England on 14 September 1880 and was articled to Brunsden & Henderson from 1893 to 1896. He then worked as an assistant to Arthur Green (?-1904) for over three years, William Walker for 18 months, and to Robert Akksbrooke Hinds (1868-1948) for two years.
In 1903 Clarke qualified as an architect and in 1904 was elected an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (ARIBA).
In 1909 he established an architectural practice, J. D. Clarke [subsequently known as J. D. Clarke & Partners and as J. D. Clarke & Son], in Eastbourne, Sussex. The practice specialised in the restoration and extension of churches. In 1930 he was senior partner in the practice John D. Clarke & Worsfield. The other partner was probably Alfred Felix de Parmantier Worsfield (1900-1940) who practised in nearby Brighton at this time.
A photograph of Messack House in Cornwall, designed by John D. Clarke & Worsfield is illustrated in 'Decorative Art' 1931 (p.28).
Clarke died Willingdon, Eastbourne, Sussex on 5 November 1947
Filching Manor, Jevington, Sussex, 1912; Court Lodge, Groombridge, Sussex, 1913; New Place, Willingdon, Sussex, 1913; the Nunnery, Penshurst, Kent, 1914; Frensham Manor, Frensham, Surrey, 1923; Bredon, Willingdon, Sussex, 1923. [Source: Who's Who in Architecture 1926]
Directory of British Architects 1834-1914. Compiled by Antonia Brodie, et al. Volume 1: A-K. London; New York: British Architectural Library, Royal Institute of British Architects/Continuum, 2001
Gray, A. Stuart. Edwardian architecture: a biographical dictionary. London: Gerald Duckworth & Co., Ltd., 1985
'Obituary'. The Builder vol. 173, 21 November 1947 p. 578
'Obituary'. RIBA Journal vol. 55, December 1947 p. 86
Who's Who in Architecture 1926. Edited by Frederick Chatterton. London: Architectural Press, 1926