George Clarke

George Clarke (27 January 1798 – 29 July 1875) was a New Zealand missionary, teacher, public servant, politician and judge. He was born in Wymondham, Norfolk, England on 27 January 1798. He joined the Church Missionary Society (CMS). Clarke married Martha Elizabeth Blomfield (born 11 December 1802 in Wymondham). the second daughter of Ezekiel Blomfield, a Congregational minister.

Clarke, his wife Martha and family (including their son George Clarke Jr..) sailed from Sydney on La Coquille, arriving in the Bay of Islands on 4 April 1824. George was trained as a blacksmith and was appointed to the CMS mission in Kerikeri. Then he worked at Te Waimate mission, teaching the Māori students. From 1831 to 1839, Clarke and Richard Davis managed the farm at Waimate North at which Māori students learnt farming skills. Clarke was elected to the Auckland Provincial Council at the 1853 New Zealand provincial elections and served from 1853 to 1855. He was appointed a judge of the Native Land Court in 1865. He died at Waimate North on 29 July 1875.