Founding of Colonial Founding of Colonial SingaporeSingapore

Is Raffles the only one?Is Raffles the only one?

Definition of FounderDefinition of Founder

• Someone who starts a particular institution or organisation, by providing the necessary funds and support.

• In the case of Singapore, there were many “founders”

• Sang Nila Utama?• Parameswara?• Raffles? Lee Kuan Yew? William

Farquhar? John Crawfurd?

Raffles in SingaporeRaffles in Singapore

• He was only here for 3 ocassions• Jan till Feb 1819 (9 days)• May till June 1819 (4 weeks)• October 1822 to June 1823 (8 months)• Singapore was, in Raffles’ words,

“A child of my own..”, “My new colony”

William Farquhar’s ContributionsWilliam Farquhar’s Contributions

• Both British Resident and Commandant in Singapore.

• Guarded Spore against Dutch attacks.• Attracted traders to Singapore.• Administered w/o help from others.• Farquhar Street was the only street named after

him in Singapore.• Was erased from the map in 1990s!• On his tomb in Scotland, he claimed that he

founded the settlement in Singapore.

John Crawfurd’s ContributionsJohn Crawfurd’s Contributions

• British Resident in Singapore 1823 – 1826

• Anglo- Malay Treaty 1824 – Made Singapore a British possession.

• Anglo – Dutch Treaty 1824 – Dutch recognised that Singapore was under British sphere of influence.

The credit goes to ……?The credit goes to ……?

• “ .. The credit for Singapore’s growth must go to those who made it grow, to the people who in defiance of all history built a bustling port on the equator.”

• The Malay Rajas, Straits and Nanyang Chinese, Bugis, Indians, Arabs, Armenians and the Jews, the Europeans and all those unnamed pioneering settlers who made Singapore worked.”

Comprehensive ViewComprehensive View

• Raffles’ Vision + Farquhar’s energy + Crawfurd’s shrewdness = converted Raffles’ dreams to reality

• W/o Raffles, Singapore might not exist.• W/o Farquhar, the infant settlement might not be

nursed thru its infant years.• W/o Crawfurd, Singapore might not have

prospered. • All played a part to make Singapore famous and

reputable. • But Raffles’ fame and reputation remained

compared to Farquhar and Crawfurd.

ConclusionConclusion

• In this world, there are two groups of people.

• One group does all the work.

• The other group claims all the credit.

• We must look beyond the surface to know who really deserve the credit.