Clarke, Mary Anne (c. 1776–1852)

English mistress of Frederick, duke of York, second son of George III. Name variations: Maryanne Clark. Born Mary Anne Thompson, either in London or at Oxford, around 1776; died at her estate at Boulogne on June 21, 1852; daughter of a man named Thompson (an impoverished bricklayer); received a modest education at Ham; married a man named Clarke (a proprietor of a stonemasonry business), around 1794.

Known for her wit and beauty, Mary Anne Clarke was married before she was 18. She left her husband, the proprietor of a stonemasonry business, when he took to drink and went bankrupt. After liaisons with Sir Charles Milner and Sir James Brudenell, in 1804 she became mistress of Frederick Augustus, duke of York and Albany, second son of King George III. Frederick, who was then commander-in-chief of the British army, settled Clarke in a large, expensive house in Gloucester Place, a fashionable district, with three carriages, ten horses, 20 servants, and an allowance of £1,000 per annum. The duke's promised allowance was not regularly paid, however, and to escape financial difficulties Clarke used the duke's position to sell army commissions, promotions, and transfers, undercutting the government, which was also in the business of selling the same. Her machinations brought on a public scandal in early 1809, when Colonel Gwillym Wardle, the M.P. for Salisbury, made a startling speech in the House of Commons. Eight charges of abuse of military patronage were levied against the duke, and a committee of inquiry was selected. Mary Anne Clarke appeared before the committee to give evidence. Though it was fairly obvious that the duke of York was aware of her dealings, he had not financially benefitted and was cleared of the charges. He resigned his appointment as commander-in-chief and terminated his affair with Clarke, who subsequently secured from him a considerable cash sum and a pension: the price for her withholding publication of his many letters to her. In 1814, she was imprisoned for nine months for libelling the Irish chancellor of the exchequer. Following her release, Clarke, who had been shrewd with her money, moved to Paris and set up an elegant salon where she entertained comfortably for several decades.