Stamatios Kleanthis was born to a Macedonian Greek family in the town of Velventos in Kozani, Macedonia in 1802.

On 1821, as member of the Sacred Band, he fought in the insurrection against the Turks led by Alexander Ypsilanti and was captured at the Battle of Dragashani.

After graduation, he returned with his colleague and friend Eduard Schaubert to Greece, where they were appointed public engineers by Ioannis Kapodistrias.

Kleanthis gained great wealth not only through architecture, but also through the marble quarries he operated on the island of Paros.

[citation needed] Kleanthis designed many important buildings in Athens, including the Duchess of Plaisance's mansion in Penteli, Rododafni Castle and Villa Ilissia (today the Byzantine & Christian Museum of Athens).