y of Clifford, descended
from Walter de Clifford of Clifford Castle in Herefordshire, was the son
of Hugh Clifford of Ugbrook near Exeter, and of Mary, daughter of Sir
George Chudleigh of Ashton, Devonshire. He was born on the 1st of August
1630, matriculated in 1647 at Exeter College, Oxford, where he showed
distinguished ability, supplicated for the B.A. degree in 1650, and
entered the Middle Temple in 1648. He represented Totnes in the
convention parliament and in that of 1661; and he joined the faction of
young men who spoke "confidently and often," and who sought to rise to
power by attacking Clarendon. The chancellor, according to Burnet, had
repulsed his advances on account of his Romanism, and Clifford
accordingly offered his services to Arlington, whose steady supporter he
now became.

On the 16th of February 1663 Clifford obtained the reversion of a
tellership in the exchequer, and in 1664, on the outbreak of the Dutch
war, was appointed commissioner for the care of the sick, wounded and
prisoners, with a salary of L1200. He was knighted, and was present with
James at the victory off Lowestoft over the Dutch on the 3rd of June
1665, was rewarded with the prize-ship "Patriarch Isaac," and in August,
under the earl of Sandwich, took a prominent part in the unsuccessful
attempt to capture the Dutch East India fleet in Bergen harbour. In
August he was appointed by Arlington's influence ambassador with Henry
Coventry to the north of Europe. Subsequently he served again with the
fleet, was present with Albemarle at the indecisive fight on the 1st to
the 4th of June 1666, and at the victory on the 25th of July. In October
1667 he was one of those selected by the Commons to prepare papers
concerning the naval operations. He showed great zeal and energy in
naval affairs, and he is described by Pepys as "a very fine gentleman,
and much set by at court for his activity in going to sea and stoutness
everywhere and stirring up and down." He became the same year controller
of the household and a privy councillor, in 1667 a commissioner for the
treasury, and in 1668 treasurer of the household. In the Commons he
supported the court, opposing the bill for frequent parliaments in 1668
and the Coventry Act (see COVENTRY, SIR JOHN) in 1670.

Clifford was an ardent Roman Catholic, a supporter of the royal
prerogative and of the French alliance. He regarded with favour the plan
of seeking French assistance in order to force Romani