Sir Francis Carr Clerke, 7th Bt.

Sir Francis Carr Clerke, 7th Baronet (1748 – 15 October 1778) was the 7th baronet of the Clerke baronets, of Hitcham and was killed at the Battles of Saratoga.

Clerke of North Weston, Thame was educated at John Roysse's Free School in Abingdon, (now Abingdon School).

After studying at the Inner Temple he joined the military and as Lieutenant in the 3rd Regiment of Foot Guards and was Aide-de-camp for General John Burgoyne.

He succeeded to the title on 12 February 1769.

He was killed on the 15 October 1778 (aged 29) at the second battle of Saratoga. He is reputed to have been shot by Timothy Murphy, a rifleman in Daniel Morgan's newly formed Morgan's Riflemen. Benedict Arnold rode up to General Morgan and ordered Morgan to fire upon General Fraser, Murphy scaled a nearby tree and fired four times. The first shot was a close miss, the second grazed the General's horse, and with the third, Fraser tumbled from his horse, shot through the stomach. As Sir Francis Clerke galloped onto the field with a message. Murphy's fourth shot killed him instantly.