Frederick Albert Clark was the son of Albert Clark and his first wife Ellen (nee Parsons). He was born at 4 St Paul Street, Islington on 29 March 1869. He first gives his occupation as "artist" on his parish marriage record of 26 June 1890 when he married Helena Louisa Webb at St. Mary's church, Islington. At first they lived in Hornsey, but by 1901 they had moved to Avenell Road in Islington.

By the time of the 1911 census the couple had three sons and three daughters, and had moved again to Umfreville Road in Haringey, where he stayed until at least 1915. On all the census records he describes himself as "painter of animals".

However, during the 1920's he also began dealing in antique fu...