Charles Clerke

Charles Clerke
Charles Clerke, by Nathaniel Dance-Holland, 1776
Born	22 August 1741 Essex, England
Died	22 August 1779 (aged 38) Kamchatka, Russia
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	Royal Navy
Rank	Captain
Commands held	HMS Discovery HMS Resolution
Battles/wars	Seven Years' War

Captain Charles Clerke (22 August 1741 – 22 August 1779) was an officer in the Royal Navy who sailed on four voyages of exploration (including three circumnavigations), three with Captain James Cook. When Cook was killed during his 3rd expedition to the Pacific, Clerke took command but died later in the voyage from tuberculosis.