William Clarke

William Clarke or Clark (died c. 1706) was a justice of the Supreme Court of the Lower Counties of Delaware from 1684 to 1706, and a justice of the Provincial Supreme Court of Pennsylvania from 1684 to 1693, later becoming chief justice of that court on April 10, 1703. During most of this period (from 1682 to 1704), Delaware and Pennsylvania were under a common general assembly.

Clarke "was one of the early settlers at Lewes soon after the occupation by the English, and was one of the magistrates, a surveyor and a member of Penn's Council". Clarke was elected from Sussex county to the first Assembly, at Chester, in 1682, and to Penn's first Council in 1683.

Clarke became Speaker of the separate Assembly for the Lower Counties, at Newcastle, in 1705, and "protested with the three other Friends, who were members, against the Militia act which was passed, though, as Speaker, he was obliged to sign the bill". Clarke served as president of the courts of Pennsylvania and the Lower Counties until his death, and was succeeded in this office by Jasper Yeates.