The status of Singapore as a British possession was cemented by the Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1824, which carved up the Malay archipelago between the two colonial powers.
Thomas Stamford Raffles (Sir) (b. 6 July 1781, off Port Morant, Jamaica–d. 5 July 1826, Middlesex, England)1 is known as the founder of modern Singapore. In December 1818, Raffles left Calcutta in search of a new British settlement to replace Malacca.
In 1818, he convinced Lord Hastings, the Governor-General of India to establish a new port on the southern end of the Strait of Malacca. The “Dutch-free” island of Singapore was chosen due to its strategic location at the entrance of the straits.
To thoroughly enjoy a Singapore Staycation, the swimming pool must not disappoint. At Raffles Hotel, the swimming pool comes with 2 jacuzzis tucked away at the corners and the dressing rooms comes complete with steam bath and sauna!
Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles
May 1817: Receives knighthood from the Prince Regent, King George IV. 6 Feb 1819: Signs a treaty with Sultan Hussein Shah and Temenggong Abdul Rahman, establishing Singapore as a British settlement.
Raffles exercised direct supervision over Singapore only intermittently between 1819 and 1824, for less than a year all told, yet he remained the single most important influence over its early development: he designed the town plan, promulgated a constitution and code of laws, eradicated gaming, cock-fighting, and
They were assisted by Lieutenant Philip Jackson who drew up the layout plan of the city according to Raffles' instructions.
British trading ships were heavily taxed at Dutch ports, stifling British trade in the region. Raffles reasoned that the way to challenge the Dutch was to establish a new port in the region. Existing British ports were not in a strategic enough position to becoming major trading centres.
Sir Stamford Raffles, in full Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, (born July 6, 1781, at sea, off Port Morant, Jam. —died July 5, 1826, London, Eng.), British East Indian administrator and founder of the port city of Singapore (1819), who was largely responsible for the creation of Britain's Far Eastern empire.
British invasion of Java
In 1811, after the annexation of the Kingdom of Holland by France during Napoleon's war, Raffles had no choice but to leave the country. He mounted a military expedition against the Dutch and French in Java, in the Dutch East Indies.Raffles, Sir Thomas Stamford (1781–1826) British colonial administrator, founder of Singapore. When Java returned to Dutch rule (1816), Raffles bought the island of Singapore for the British East India Company (1819). Under his guidance, it developed rapidly into a prosperous free port.
The Raffles Effect
Modern Singapore was founded in the 19th century, thanks to politics, trade and a man known as Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles. During this time, the British empire was eyeing a port of call in this region to base its merchant fleet, and to forestall any advance made by the Dutch.Sultan Hussein Muadzam Shah
Exports, particularly in electronics, chemicals and services including Singapore's position as the regional hub for wealth management provide the main source of revenue for the economy, which allows it to purchase natural resources and raw goods which it lacks.
SINGAPORE was chosen by the British because of the location, it was a reliable port for trading in Asia, especially China. The British wanted to trade with China during that time and if Singapore was under the British control, they could use Singapore to easily travel to travel to China for trading and back.
During World War 2, Singapore was conquered and occupied by the Japanese Empire from 1942 to 1945. When the war ended, Singapore reverted to British control, with increasing levels of self-government being granted, culminating in Singapore's merger with the Federation of Malaya to form Malaysia in 1963.
Singapore attains crown colony status - Singapore History. The Straits Settlements, which comprised Singapore, Malacca and Penang, became a crown colony under direct British control on 1 April 1867.
He pointed out that Singapore was already a thriving seaport known as Temasek in the 14th century. Two centuries before Raffles' arrival, Flemish gem trader Jacques de Coutre proposed to the King of Spain to build a fortress in Singapore.
Singapore became part of Malaysia on 16 September 1963 following a merger with Malaya, North Borneo, and Sarawak. Singapore's chief minister, Lee Kuan Yew, and other political leaders began advocating for equal treatment of all races in Malaysia, with a rallying cry of "Malaysian Malaysia!"
Eventually Raffles settled on the island of Singapore, because of its position at the southern tip of the Malay peninsula, near the Straits of Malacca, and its excellent natural harbor, fresh water supplies, and timber for repairing ships.
