CLARKE, Edward Daniel, English trav eler, antiquary and mineralogist: b. Willingdon, Sussex, 1769; d. London, 9 March 1822. In 1799 he started on an extensive and laborious tour through Denmarlc, Sweden, Lapland, Finland, Russia, Tartary, Circassia, Asia Minor, Syria, Palestine, Egypt, Greece and Turkey, returning in 1802 through Germany and France. On his return he obtained from Cambridge University the honorary degree of LL.D., in consideration of the services rendered to its public libraries and institutions by his liberal contributions, among which the greatest, perhaps, in value is the celebrated manuscript of Plato's works, with nearly 100 others and a colossal statue from Eleusis, believed by him to be that of Demeter (Ceres). To him also the British nation is in debted for the acquisition of the famous sarcophagus of Alexander the Great, which he discovered in the possession of the French troops in Egypt and which was by his means surrendered to the British army. In 1807 he
commenced a course of lectures on mineralogy at Cambridge, and in 1808 a professorship of mineralogy was instituted there in his behalf. He himself had made a splendid collection of mineralogical specimens, which was purchased after his death by Cambridge University. In 1805 he became vicar of Harlton and in 1809 rector of Yeldham, Essex. In 1817 he was ap pointed librarian of Cambridge University. A complete edition of his travels appeared in 6 volumes (1810-23) and another in 11 volumes (1816-24), under the title of (Travels in Vari ous Countries of Europe, Asia and Africa.) His (Travels,' which are the most popular of his works, are attractive from the enthusiasm of the writer and his prolific imagination.