Cecil Clementi Smith facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cecil Clementi Smith
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| 13th Governor of the Straits Settlements | |
| In office 17 October 1887 – 30 August 1893 |
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| Preceded by | Sir Frederick Weld |
| Succeeded by | William Edward Maxwell (acting) Sir Charles Mitchell |
| 4th Colonial Secretary of Straits Settlements | |
| In office 3 September 1878 – 17 November 1885 |
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| Monarch | Queen Victoria |
| Governor | William C. F. Robinson Edward Anson Sir Frederick Weld |
| Preceded by | Sir John Douglas |
| Succeeded by | Sir John Frederick Dickson |
| Colonial Treasurer of Hong Kong | |
| In office 13 November 1874 – 29 April 1878 |
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| Preceded by | Frederick Forth |
| Succeeded by | Sir James Russell |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 23 December 1840 London, England, United Kingdom |
| Died | 6 February 1916 (aged 75) Welwyn, Hertfordshire, England, United Kingdom |
| Spouse |
Teresa Alice Newcomen
(m. 1869–1916) |
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| Parents |
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| Relatives | Cecil Clementi (nephew) |
| Education | Master of Arts |
| Alma mater | St Paul's School Corpus Christi College, Cambridge |
| Occupation | Colonial Administrator |
Sir Cecil Clementi Smith (born December 23, 1840 – died February 6, 1916) was an important British official. He worked as a colonial administrator, which means he helped manage countries that were part of the British Empire.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Cecil Clementi Smith was born in London, England. His father, John Smith, was a church leader in Essex. His mother, Cecilia Susanna Clementi, was the daughter of a famous musician named Muzio Clementi.
Cecil Clementi Smith went to St Paul's School and then to Corpus Christi College, Cambridge for his university studies.
In 1864, he started his career in public service. He worked in Hong Kong as a cadet interpreter. This job helped him learn a lot about Chinese culture and language. He became very good at understanding Chinese traditions. He also served as the Colonial Treasurer of Hong Kong, managing the colony's money.
Working in the Straits Settlements
In 1878, Clementi Smith moved to Singapore. He became the Colonial Secretary for the Straits Settlements. This area included Singapore, Penang, and Malacca. He worked closely with the Governor, Frederick Weld.
His deep knowledge of Chinese culture and language was very helpful. He could talk easily with leaders of the growing Chinese community in Singapore.
Dealing with Secret Societies
Clementi Smith became well-known for his work against Chinese secret societies. These groups had been causing trouble in the Straits Settlements for many years. He helped to bring peace and order to the local people.
Supporting Education
He also cared about education. In 1889, he started the Queen's Scholarships. These scholarships helped bright students from Singapore study at top universities in Britain. This gave many young people a chance to get a better education.
Becoming Governor
In 1887, Cecil Clementi Smith was chosen to be the Governor of the Straits Settlements. He was also the High Commissioner to Malaya. He served in these important roles until 1893.
He was a very popular governor. When he was about to leave Singapore in 1893, the local Chinese community asked for him to stay longer. This showed how much they respected him.
Later Career and Family Life
After leaving Singapore, Clementi Smith continued his public service. He worked as the Lieutenant Governor of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). He also became the Master of the Mercers' Company in 1897.
In 1903, he led a group looking into the Trinidad riots. In 1912, he was the main British representative at the International Opium Convention in The Hague.
Clementi Smith married Teresa Alice Newcomen in 1869. They had three children: Hubert, Beatrice, and Eustace. Eustace later became a lieutenant colonel in the army.
Cecil Clementi Smith passed away in Welwyn, England, on February 6, 1916. He was 75 years old. His nephew, Sir Cecil Clementi, also became a governor of the Straits Settlements.
Awards and Recognition
Cecil Clementi Smith received several important awards for his service:
- He became a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in 1880.
- He was made a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) in 1886.
- He received the highest honor, Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG), in 1892.
In 1906, he was also appointed as a Privy Counsellor. This is a group of trusted advisors to the British monarch.
