Clarges was the third son of Sir Walter Clarges, 1st Baronet, the first son of his marriage to Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Thomas Gould, Sheriff of London, widow of Sir Robert Wymondsell. He was educated at St Paul's School, London and Trinity College, Cambridge.http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1715-1754/member/clarges-robert-1693-1727 Romney Sedgwick (ed.), The History of Parliament: The House of Commons, 1715-1754. I: Introductory Survey, Appendices, Constituencies, Members A-D (London: The Stationery Office, 1970), p. 554. His father died in 1706 whilst Clarges was still a minor and his inheritance of Stoke Poges Rectory Manor was held in trust for him until he became of age.
