Captain Clerke died.[19] His disease was a consumption, which had evidently commenced before he left England, and of which he had lingered during the whole voyage.
[Footnote 19: Captain Clerke departed this life in the thirty-eighth year of his age.

He was brought up to the navy from his earliest youth, and had been in several actions during the war which began in 1756.

In the action between the Bellona and the Courageux, being stationed in the mizen-top, he was carried over-board with the mast; but was taken up without having received any hurt.

He was a midshipman in the Dolphin, commanded by Captain Byron, in her voyage round the world: after which he served on the American station.

In 1768, he made his second voyage round the world, in the Endeavour, as master's mate: and, in consequence of the death of Mr.Hicks, which happened on the 23rd of May, 1771, he returned home a lieutenant.