thumb|right|250px|"The modern Circe or a sequel to the petticoat", caricature of Mary Anne Clarke by [[Isaac Cruikshank, 15 March 1809. Her lover Frederick, Duke of York resigned from his post at the head of the British Army ten days after the caricature's publication.]]
thumb|[[Portrait of Prince Frederick, Duke of York|Portrait of the Duke of York by Thomas Lawrence, 1816.]]
Mary Anne Clarke (born Mary Anne Thompson; 3 April 1776 – 21 June 1852) was the mistress of Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany. Their relationship began in 1803, while he was Commander-in-Chief of the army. Later in 1809, she wrote her memoirs which were published. She was the subject of a portrait by Adam Buck, and a caricature by Isaac Cruikshank; ten days after the latter's publication, the Duke resigned from his post as Commander of the British Army. In 1811, she commissioned Irish sculptor Lawrence Gahagan to sculpt a marble bust of her; this is now housed in the National Portrait Gallery, London.
Through her daughter Ellen, who married Louis-Mathurin Busson du Maurier, Clarke was a great-great-grandmother of author Daphne du Maurier, who wrote the novel Mary Anne about her life.
Life as a courtesan
Mary Anne Thompson was born on 3 April 1776 in London, the daughter of a humble tradesman. However, he failed to supply the funds necessary to support their lavish lifestyle.
Frederick was forced to resign from his position, though he was later reinstated.
After the Duke of York resigned his post as Commander in Chief of the Army, and before he was later reinstated, he cut all ties to Clarke, paying her a considerable sum to prevent her from publishing letters he had written to her during their relationship.