Who was the founder of Singapore?

Rivalry between the Dutch and the British

Main issue: Trading monopoly in SEA > control of trade routes and ports

Dutch had Java and Melaka > others only to trade in Batavia > high fees and taxes

British had Bencoolen and Penang > unsuitable for China and India trade > too far

Therefore, Raffles saw the need of another port south of Melaka to challenge the

Dutch and protect British ships.

Singapore was the answer!!!!

Raffles chose Singapore because:

• She had lots of fresh drinking water. > suitable for setting up of new settlement

• She lay on the main trade route between China and India Europe. > challenge Dutch monopoly

• She had a natural deep harbour appropriate for big ships to anchor. > safe and had adequate features to protect British ships

How Singapore Came Under British Rule

• On the 28th of Jan 1819, Raffles with his British fleet reached St. John’s Island.

• On the 29th of Jan 1819, Raffles and Farquhar reached Singapore. They went to see the Temenggong, the chief of this island. Raffles asked permission from the Temenggong to setup a British settlement here.

• The Temenggong was willing but he did not have the power. Raffles had to seek the permission from the Sultan of Johor (Malaya). Craftily, he sought Tengku Hussein’s help.

 

• On the 6th of Feb 1819, Raffles set up a tent at the Padang and made Tengku Hussein the new Sultan of Johor. The Sultan and Temenggong signed a treaty with British, which allowed British to setup a settlement on the island, and in return, both Sultan and Temenggong would receive a big sum of money from the British every year.

• The short flag-raising ceremony marked the founding of the modern Singapore.

The treaty that signed away their lives…

Stamps commemorating the founding of Singapore

Why was the treaty important to the British?

• It allowed the British to set up a trading settlement in Singapore, which eventually led to the signing of the Anglo-Dutch Treaty that saw Singapore becoming a full colony under the British together with Penang and Melaka.

Problems that Farquhar encountered and the solutions for them: • Problem: Not many people knew about

the settlement in Singapore. Farquhar had to get the traders from the places nearby to come to Singapore and trade.

• Solution: He invited the immigrants from Malacca to come and trade and stationed an office at St. John’s Island to inform the trading ships passing by about the settlement in Singapore.

• Problem: The island was short of building materials, food, tools and other necessities.

• Solution: Farquhar ordered his men to go to Malacca and bring some food back. The traders in Singapore also brought some of the necessities here.

• Problem: There were pests like centipedes and rats all over the island. These pests hurt some people. The rats also destroyed the food supplies. Tigers were also a threat to the people here.

• Solution: Rewards were given to those people who killed these pests.

• Problem: Crimes like robbing and fighting often occurred.

• Solution: Farquhar set up a small police force but the problem cannot be solved.

Who really founded Singapore?

• Raffles?

• Farquhar?

• Crawfurd?

• The pioneers? • ALL?