One of the most renowned characters in British literature, Clare Stokes was born in 1812 in the Yorkshire area of England. Her notable works include “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” and “The Courtship of Miles Standish”. As a young woman, she became deeply immersed in the pursuits of journalism on the East Sussex coast. In these writings she portrayed many of the people from the area, including her own father, a minister, a merchant seaman, a publisher, and a lady of fortune who loved horse racing. Her marriage to a man of common Wealth, Sir Francis Drake, ended her writing career.
Clare Stokes eventually settled into a profession as a surveyor with the East Sussex Company. She took an interest in the lives of others during this time who travelled on British warships, such as Rear-Admiral Cook, who had interests in the Orient. Clare became very skilled at gauging ship speeds and working up charts of all sizes. This interest in sailing eventually led to her becoming one of the first female captain of a sailing ship and eventually setting sail for India and Sri Lanka. Once there, she ended up as an exotic beauty in the company of King Edward, and even served as his empress.
It is clear from this that her love of adventure spanned many different occupations, interests, and periods throughout her life. The depth of her faith in her marriage and profession made it easier for her to accept a divorce after marrying a man who resented her appearance. But the boldness that she showed in escaping her marriage and embracing her new role as a captain in the navy, made her an invaluable asset to her new husband.