Cecil Street or Lebuh Cecil

View Larger Map

Cecil Street or Lebuh Cecil, was named after Sir Cecil Clementi, Governor of the Straits Settlements (1930-1934).It is located between Gurdwara(formerly Brick Kiln Road) and Jalan CY Choy(formerly Bridge Street).The Chinese called it Chhit-tiau-lor(7th street), as it is the 7th parallel street from the Anson bridge over the Prangin Canal.

There were two men known as Sir Cecil Clementi, both having been colonial governors in Singapore. Sir Cecil Clementi, who served between 1929 to 1934, was Sir Cecil Clementi Smith's nephew. Clementi was the nephew of the Rt. Hon. Sir Cecil Clementi Smith (1860–1916), Governor of the Straits Settlements and High Commissioner in the period 1887 to 1893.

Sir Cecil Clementi did not served in Penang; but only administer Penang on his capacity as Governor of the Straits Settlements (1930-1934). Penang was part of the Strait Settlement.

Sir Cecil Clementi(b1875-d1947)

Sir Cecil Clementi, GCMG, KStJ, FRGS, MRAS (Chinese name 金文泰) (1 September 1875 - 5 April 1947), was a British colonial administrator who served as Governor of Hong Kong from 1925–30, and Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Straits Settlements from 1930-34.Clementi married Marie Penelope Rose Eyres, daughter of Admiral Cresswell John Eyres, in 1912. The couple had one son, Cresswell, and three daughters.

1875- Born in Cawnpore, India, Clementi was the son of Colonel Montagu Clementi, Judge Advocate General in India, and his wife, Isabel Collard.

He attended St Paul's School and Magdalen College, Oxford, where he studied Sanskrit and the classics

1895 - he won the Hertford Scholarship (an honorable mention), and 1st class mods a year later.

1896 - He subsequently won the Ireland and Craven Scholarship (an honorable mention) in 1896,

1897 - Boden Sanskrit Scholar in 1897. Clementi became proxime accessit (runner-up in examination) of the Gaisford Greek Prose prize in 1897,

1898 - 2nd class lit. hum. and attained his B.A. in 1898

1899 - Clementi was also proxime accessit of the Chancellor's Latin Essay prize in 1899. In 1899, Clementi placed fourth in the competitive examinations for the civil service, which allowed him his choice of postings. His choice was Hong Kong, and upon his arrival he was sent up to Canton, where he was a land officer until forced to return to Hong Kong by the events of the Boxer Rebellion.

1900- Clementi's facility with languages was demonstrated when he passed the Cantonese examination in 1900

1901 - attained his M.A. in 1901, serving as an Assistant Registrar General in 1901

1902 - Clementi joined as a member of the Board of Examiners in Chinese, in 1902. In 1902, Clementi was seconded for special service under government of India and was created J.P. in that same year.

1903 - A year later, he was seconded for famine relief work in Kwang Si (Guangxi).

1904- A year afterwards, Clementi was appointed Member of Land Court, Assistant Land Officer and Police Magistrate at New Territories, Hong Kong, a position he served in until 1906.

1906 - passed the Pekingese examination in 1906.

1907 - Clementi was promoted to Assistant Colonial Secretary and Clerk of Council, in 1907.

1909 - Clementi represented the Hong Kong government in the International Opium Conference at Shanghai, in 1909.

1910- A year later, he became the Private Secretary to the Administrator at that time, Sir Francis Henry May.

Clementi eventually became Acting Colonial Secretary and Member of both the Executive Legislative Councils of Hong Kong. He would remain there until 1912.

1913 - In 1913, Clementi was appointed Colonial Secretary of British Guiana, a post he held until 1922.

1922 - he was named the Colonial Secretary of Ceylon, where he served until 1925.

1925 - Governor of Ceylon for a short duration

1925 to 1930 - appointed as Governor of Hong Kong

1930-1934 - Governor of Straits Settlements & British High Commissioner in Malaya

1934 - retired from colonial service

1947 - Clementi died in High Wycombe, England on 5 April 1947.