Clarke Street(克叻街)

Clarke Street

Clarke Street(克叻街), named after Sir Andrew Clarke, Governor of the Straits Settlements from 1873 to 1875. The street is located between Jalan Argyll (Argyll Road) and Jalan Hutton(Hutton Lane). It was intersected by Jalan Datuk Koyah at the middle of the street. It is a short street, out of the main road,and a quite street.


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Lieutenant-General Sir Andrew Clarke

Lieutenant-General Sir Andrew Clarke, GCMG, CB, CIE (27 July 1824 – 29 March 1902) was a British soldier and governor as well as politician in Australia. Sir Andrew Clarke, Singapore's second Governor and Governor of the Straits Settlements from 1873 to 1875, who played a key role in positioning Singapore as the main port for the Malay states of Perak, Selangor and Sungei Ujong.

Born in Southsea, Hampshire, Clarke was the eldest of the four sons of Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Andrew Clarke, the Governor of Western Australia (1793 - 1847). Clarke's early years were spent in India with his parents. He was later brought up by his paternal grandfather and two uncles, one of whom was the father of Marcus Clarke, at the family home of Belmont, near Lifford, Ireland. He was educated at The King's School, Canterbury, and at Portora Royal School at Enniskillen, Ireland. At 16 he entered the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, where one of his teachers was Michael Faraday.

Sir Andrew Clarke served as the Governor of the Straits Settlements from 4 November 1873 until 7 May 1875. He was famous for signing the Treaty of Pangkor in 1874, which established indirect British rule over the Malay States. In that same year, he successfully enforced a check on the abuse of coolies with support of the prominent Chinese leaders and European merchants. Clarke achieved fame through his negotiations in regard to Sungei Ujong in Malaya, sorting out the differences between different leaders in the state. Clarke was blamed for the death of the first British resident in Perak, James Wheeler Woodford Birch, due to his ignorance of a complain, when Sultan Abdullah of Perak wrote a letter to inform him about Birch's rudeness against the Malay rulers, because at that time he was about to retire and did not want that problem to destroy his reputation as one of the most successful colonial administrators. Today Singapore's Clarke Quay is named after him.

Clarke died at his house in Portland Place, London, on 29 March 1902. He was predeceased by his wife, Mary Margaret MacKillop, whom he had married on 17 September 1867, and he was survived by their only child, Elinor Mary de Winton.

Clarke Quay, Singapore was also named after him. Clarke Street, located next to Clarke Quay, was officially named in 1896.

(source: wikipedia)

Food at Clarke Street

Fei Fei’s favourite Koay Teow Th’ng stall,located yet in another alley at the Clarke Street in Penang. This food stall in fact was just a stone’s throw away from another famous Wan Tan Mee stall at Argyll Road and beside the Caltex Petrol Station. For further details and pictures, please visit http://www.penangtuapui.com/2008/11/fei-feis-pick-of-the-week-clarke-st-ktt/

Club and Associations

Persatuan Saudagar Hokkien Pulau Pinang Penang Hock Siang Association(槟城福商公会) was located at No. 35, Clarke Street, 10050 Penang,

Chan Seng Thong Heong Wooi (槟城增龙同乡会),is located at N0. 28 Clarke Street, 10050 Penang

Reference article:

1. Andrew Clarke (administrator), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Clarke_%28administrator%29
2. Clarke, Sir Andrew (1824 - 1902), http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A030386b.htm