Full Name: Thomas Stamford Bingley Raffles
Profession: British Statesman and Founder of Singapore
Biography: Stamford Raffles was a British statesman who served as the Lieutenant-Governor of the Dutch East Indies (1811-1816) and Bencoolen (1818-1824). He is known as the founder of Singapore and the Straits Settlements, as well as the British capture of Java from the Dutch as part of the Napoleonic Wars.
The founding of modern Singapore began when Major-General William Farquhar negotiated a commercial treaty with the Raja Muda of Riau. With this news in hand, Raffles sailed to Malacca where Farquhar served as the British Resident.
A trading post was first established, with care to navigate the complex politics with the Dutch in the area. Subsequently the basis of what would become modern Singapore was founded by Raffles on the 6th of February 1819. After establishing this colony, Raffles returned to Bencoolen.
Born: July 6, 1781
Birthplace: On the ship Ann off the coast of Port Morant, Jamaica
Star Sign: Cancer
Historical Events
- 1811-09-18 British East India Company force led by Baron Minto conquers Java, part of the Dutch East Indies, Stamford Raffles appointed lieutenant governor
- 1812-06-20 British Governor Stamford Raffles storms the kraton (palace) of Yogyakarta on Java, capturing its ruler Hamengkubuwono III
- 1819-01-28 British colonial officer Stamford Raffles lands in Singapore
- 1819-02-06 Stamford Raffles founds Singapore as a British trading port
Biographies and Sources
- Yogyakarta, muren van Kraton - Atlas of Mutual Heritage
Ada Lovelace
Alan Sugar
Alan Turing
Aldous Huxley
Alec Guinness
Alec Issigonis