Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles and the Foundation of Singapore
Plaque on the plinth of the statue of Sir Stamford Raffles at Raffles’ Landing Site by the Singapore River
Two hundred years ago, Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles negotiated an important treaty, leading to the establishment of the British colony of Singapore. Raffles Hotel in Singapore, named after him, is one of the most famous hotels in the world.
On 29th January 1819 Raffles established a post on this newly discovered island and immediately made contact with the local rulers. This proved to be Raffles’ strength, sensing an uneasy political context he offered what would have been a basic treaty establishing trade exclusivity and British protection of the area.
By 6th February 1819 Singapore had been established and Britain was in control. The treaty was announced in public, read in several languages in order to show inclusion of all people belonging to this multicultural trade centre. Raffles had secured an important port, leading to the city’s growth not only financially but culturally and socially, attracting people from all across the continent hoping to make money on the island. Modern Singapore was taking its tentative steps on the global stage. In the following years, Singapore would formally become a British colony with power transferred to Major William Farquhar as the Resident and Commandant of the new settlement. Raffles, although initially returning to Sumatra, would continue to exert his influence on Singapore throughout the years.
Founding of Singapore 1819
Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles and the Foundation of Singapore
Two hundred years ago, an important treaty was negotiated by the Englishman Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, leading to the establishment of the British colony of Singapore. The foundation of modern Singapore and the actions of the British Empire marked a new chapter for this southern Asian island which grew into a commercial and cosmopolitan hub, largely due to its ideal location as a trading port.
Before the expansion of European imperial ambitions into Asia, Singapore had been known as “Pu-luo-chung”, as recorded by some early third century Chinese accounts. As a settlement it grew alongside trade and was known as Temasek which loosely translates as “Sea Town”. It would later be renamed Singapura, or the “Lion City” abbreviated from the Sanskrit words which according to legend, were derived from a Prince who had spotted an animal he had never come across before whilst on a hunt.
For this small Asian island, its location at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula would make it a prime trading spot, on the confluence of many trading routes for vessels travelling from all across the ancient world, part of the wider connections known as the Silk Roads. The island would for centuries come under the control of foreign powers vying for hegemony in the region including the Srivijaya Empire based in Sumatra, Indonesia, whilst in the twelfth century the Majapahit Empire from the island of Java and later the Siamese would use it as a vassal state. By the fifteenth century Malacca was exercising dominance until European powers intervened and Portugal enhanced its imperial portfolio.
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