Born 17 January 1871, son of G H Clarkson of Caterham, he was educated at St Paul's School where he was a foundation scholar, and at St George's Hospital, where he served as senior house surgeon. He then went as a ship's surgeon with the P and O Company. He practised throughout his career at Caterham, where he was surgeon to the Hospital and civil surgeon to the Guards Depot. During the war of 1914-18 he served in the RAMC, and later in Germany with the British Army of Occupation. After retirement he settled at Chichester, but moved to Hayward's Heath, where he died on 15 April 1955 aged 85. A year before his death he presented the College with a silver cup (*Artistic possessions* catalogue, Silver no 22).