Cecil Clementi Smith

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Colonial Treasurer of Hong Kong
In office
13 November 1874 – 29 April 1878
Preceded byFrederick Forth
Succeeded bySir James Russell
Personal details
Born(1840-12-23)23 December 1840
London, England, United Kingdom
Died6 February 1916(1916-02-06) (aged 75)
Welwyn, Hertfordshire, England, United Kingdom
Spouse
Teresa Alice Newcomen
(m. 1869⁠–⁠1916)
Children
  • Beatrice Smith (daughter)
  • Eustace Smith (son)
Parents
  • John Smith (father)
  • Cecilia Susanna Clementi (mother)
Relatives
OccupationColonial Administrator

Sir Cecil Clementi Smith

administrator
.

Background

The son of an Essex rector, John Smith, and his wife Cecilia Susanna Clementi (daughter of

Colonial Treasurer of Hong Kong
.

Civil Service

A bust of Clementi Smith in Victoria Concert Hall

On 3 September 1878,

Chinese community
.

Smith became known for his effective work in quelling

Queen's Scholarships in 1889 to fund bright Singaporean students to further their studies in top British universities.[1]

In 1887 he was appointed

High Commissioner to Malaya till 1893. A popular governor, the local Chinese community petitioned for a continuation of his appointment when he left Singapore in 1893.[1][4][5][6][7]

Subsequently, he was

Trinidad riots in 1903, and was chief British delegate to International Opium Convention at The Hague in 1912.[8]

Family

Clementi Smith married Teresa Alice Newcomen in 1869, they had three children, Hubert (born …), Beatrice (born c. 1872) and Eustace (born c. 1879, and later a lieutenant colonel). Clementi Smith died in Welwyn, Hertfordshire, England, on 6 February 1916, aged 75.[9] His nephew was Sir Cecil Clementi who also served as Governor of the Straits Settlements and in other administrative positions in Hong Kong and Singapore.

Clementi Smith as caricatured in Vanity Fair, January 1892

Honours and awards

Clementi Smith was invested with Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in 1880,[10] Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) in 1886[11] and Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG) in 1892.[12]

He was also being appointed as

Privy Counsellor in 1906.[13]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Vernon Cornelius (2011), Cecil Clementi Smith, Singapore Infopedia, National Library Board, archived from the original on 26 July 2014.
  2. ^ "Smith, Cecil Clementi (SMT859CC)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
  3. ^ "No. 24622". The London Gazette. 6 September 1878. p. 5037.
  4. ^ "Farewell public banquet to H.E. the governor". The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser. 24 August 1893. p. 2.
  5. ^ "The farewell banquet to H.E. the Governor". The Straits Times. 24 August 1893. p. 2.
  6. ^ "The farewell banquet to H.E. the Governor". The Straits Times. 24 August 1893. p. 3.
  7. ^ "His Excellency Sir Cecil Clementi Smith". The Straits Times. 30 August 1893. p. 3.
  8. ^ "INTERNATIONAL OPIUM CONVENTION SIGNED AT THE HAGUE JANUARY 23, 1912". 23 January 1912. Archived from the original on 25 January 2005.
  9. ^ "Sir Clementi Smith dead". The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser. 9 February 1916. p. 6..
  10. ^ "No. 24848". The London Gazette. 28 May 1880. p. 3220.
  11. ^ "No. 25592". The London Gazette. 29 May 1886. p. 2634.
  12. ^ "No. 26238". The London Gazette. 1 January 1892. p. 1.
  13. ^ "No. 27928". The London Gazette. 3 July 1906. p. 4545.

External links

Government offices
Preceded by
Colonial Treasurer of Hong Kong

1874-1878
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Sir
John Douglas
Colonial Secretary of Straits Settlements

1878-1885
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Governor of the Straits Settlements

1887–1893
Succeeded by