Thomas Henry Shadwell Clerke facts for kids

Thomas Henry Shadwell Clerke (1792–1849) was an Irish soldier and a well-known military journalist. He was also a member of several important scientific groups.

Early Life and Military Career

Thomas Clerke was born in Bandon, Ireland, in 1792. He came from a family of soldiers. His brothers, St. John Augustus Clerke and William Clerke, also joined the army.

Thomas went to the Royal Military College in Great Marlow. He was a very bright student there. In 1808, he became an ensign, which is a junior officer rank.

Serving in the Peninsular War

As a young officer, Thomas Clerke fought in the Peninsular War. This was a big conflict in Europe between 1807 and 1814. He served with the 28th and 5th Foot regiments.

Sadly, in 1811, he was badly injured during a battle at Redinha. He lost his right leg, which meant he could no longer fight actively.

After His Injury

Even after his injury, Thomas Clerke continued to serve the army. He was promoted to a company in the 1st Garrison Battalion. This promotion was suggested by Lord Wellington, a famous military leader.

He later served with the 2nd Battalion, 57th Foot. In 1830, he was promoted to the rank of Major.

A Career in Journalism and Science

After his active military service, Major Clerke became a very important journalist. He also joined many scientific groups.

Editor and Writer

In 1829, Major Clerke became the editor of Colburn's United Service Magazine. This was a popular journal about military topics. He worked as the editor until 1842.

He was also asked to help finish a book called Selections from the Wellington Despatches. This book contained important letters and reports from Lord Wellington.

Involvement in Learned Societies

Major Clerke was very smart and knew several languages, including French, Italian, and Spanish. He was very active in many important groups that studied science and other subjects.

He was a member of the British Association. He was also a Fellow of the Royal Society, which is a very old and respected scientific group. He became a Fellow in 1833.

Major Clerke helped start the Royal United Service Institution. This group focuses on military and defense topics. He was also a vice-president of this institution.

He was a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society, meaning he was interested in stars and space. He was also a Fellow of the Geological Society, which studies rocks and the Earth. For a short time, he was even a secretary for the Royal Geographical Society, which explores the world.

Later Life and Legacy

Major Thomas Clerke passed away on April 19, 1849, in London. He was 57 years old.

Places Named in His Honor

Two important places in Australia were named after Major Clerke. These are "Mount Shadwell" and "Mount Clerke".

They were named by Major Thomas Livingston Mitchell, a surveyor, during his expedition in 1836–37. These names honor Thomas Clerke's contributions and memory.