William Clark (anatomist)

William Clark (5 April 1788 – 15 September 1869) was a British anatomist.

History
Clark was born in Newcastle upon Tyne, a son of John Clark (died 1805). After attending a school at Welton, East Riding of Yorkshire, he matriculated at Trinity College, Cambridge in 1804, graduating B.A. in 1808. He studied medicine in London, graduating M.D. in 1827.

Clark served as Professor of Anatomy, University of Cambridge, from 1817 to 1866, during which time he was responsible for acquisition of an extensive museum of comparative anatomy and laid the foundations for the School of Biological Sciences at Cambridge University. He was elected Fellow of the Royal Society in 1836.

Clark was ordained in 1818. He was rector of Guiseley, Yorkshire, 1826–1859, the duties being carried out by a curate. After suffering a stroke in 1863, he died at home in Cambridge in 1869.

Family
Clark married Mary Willis, daughter of Robert Darling Willis M.D. (1760–1821). John Willis Clark was their son.