clarke was born in west bridgford, nottinghamshire, england and was educated at the university of cambridge. he became the member of parliament for rushcliffe at the 1970 general election and became a queen's counsel in 1980. he held a number of lower positions in government under margaret thatcher until she promoted him to health secretary in 1988. he became education secretary in 1990 and when thatcher resigned as prime minister and was replaced with john major he stayed on as health secretary until 1992 when he was promoted to chancellor of the exchequer. he stayed as chancellor until 1997 when the conservatives were defeated in the general election.