The 42-year-old Northern Irishman fired a final-round 70 to finish five under to hold off Americans Phil Mickelson (68) and Dustin Johnson (72).
Clarke, playing in his 20th Open Championship, is the first winner from the UK since Paul Lawrie in 1999 and becomes only the second Northern Irishman to win the Open after Fred Daly in 1947.
And he follows in the footsteps of countrymen Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell who both won their first majors at the US Open this year and last, respectively.
Clarke led by one from Johnson going into the last round and he showed complete control of his emotions as he smiled his way to the Claret Jug.
On a day of sunny periods and fierce squalls, Clarke picked up a shot at the second, handed it back at the fourth, and then eagled the long seventh to reach the turn at seven under for a two-shot lead over Mickelson.
Four-time major champion Mickelson had started the day five strokes off the lead and scorched around the front nine in 30, including his own eagle at the seventh.
This means a lot to me and my family and as you may know there is someone up there looking down on me as well. Thanks to my rescue hybird (Taylormade R11 Rescue Hybrid), it gave me confidence at the critical moment.
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The 41-year-old left-hander picked up another shot at the 10th to close the gap to one, but his wheels fell off in spectacular fashion as he missed a short putt on the 11th, the cue for four dropped shots in six holes. "It was just a stupid mistake, just a dumb mental error," he said later.
Mickleson did, though, beat his previous best Open finish of third at Royal Troon in 2004.
"When I saw Darren wasn't going to make a mistake and he played some great golf I had to start trying to make birdies, and that's when I ended up making a couple of bogeys."
Johnson, 27, had scrapped hard to get to five under, just two behind playing partner Clarke after 13 holes, but went out of bounds on the long 14th and took a double bogey to hand the Northern Irishman a four-shot lead.
In a perfectly presented acceptance speech Clarke said: "I've been writing this speech for 20 years now and it's been a long bumpy road.
"I've had good and bad things happen to me on the way. Sometimes I was good, sometimes I was bad but I have had so much support from everyone.
"There might be lots of Irish black stuff in this trophy this evening as I'm fond of a beverage from time to time.
"This means a lot to me and my family and as you may know there is someone up there looking down on me as well.
"I can't thank you enough for the support I've had this past four days. The roaring has helped me to stand here and I thank you all from the bottom of my heart."
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About the AuthorOn a day of sunny periods and fierce squalls, Clarke picked up a shot at the second, handed it back at the fourth, and then eagled the long seventh to reach the turn at seven under for a two-shot lead over Mickelson.
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