List of governors of the Straits Settlements facts for kids

The governor of the Straits Settlements was a very important leader in a group of British-controlled areas called the Straits Settlements. These areas included Singapore, Malacca, and Penang.

At first, the governor was chosen by a big trading company called the British East India Company. But in 1867, the Straits Settlements became a "Crown colony." This meant they were directly ruled by the British government, like a part of the British Empire. After that, the governor was chosen by the Colonial Office, which was a special department in the British government that managed its colonies.

This job existed from 1826 until 1946. However, between 1942 and 1945, there was no British governor because Japan took control of these areas during World War II.

Later on, the governor of the Straits Settlements also had other important roles. They were often the top British official in Malaya and Brunei. They also acted as the British representative for Sarawak and North Borneo.

Leaders of the Straits Settlements (1826–1946)

Here is a list of the main governors and acting governors who led the Straits Settlements during British rule.

British Straits Settlements
No.	Portrait	Name	Took office	Left office	Monarch
1		Robert Fullerton	27 November 1826	12 November 1830	George IV
					William IV
2		Robert Ibbetson	12 November 1830	7 December 1833
3		Kenneth Murchison	7 December 1833	17 November 1836
4		Sir Samuel George Bonham	18 November 1836	January 1843
					Victoria
British East India Company
5		Major General William John Butterworth	August 1843	21 March 1855
6		Edmund Augustus Blundell	21 March 1855	6 August 1859
India Office
7		Major General Sir William Orfeur Cavenagh	6 August 1859	16 March 1867
Colonial Office
8		Major General Sir Harry St. George Ord	16 March 1867	4 March 1871
—		Major General Edward Archibald Harbord Anson Acting Governor	4 March 1871	22 March 1872
8		Major General Sir Harry St. George Ord	22 March 1872	3 November 1873
—		Major General Edward Archibald Harbord Anson Acting Governor	3 November 1873	4 November 1873
9		Sir Andrew Clarke	4 November 1873	8 May 1875
10		Sir William Jervois	8 May 1875	3 April 1877
—		Major General Edward Archibald Harbord Anson Acting Governor	3 April 1877	August 1877
11		Sir William Cleaver Francis Robinson	August 1877	10 February 1879
—		Major General Edward Archibald Harbord Anson Acting Governor	10 February 1879	16 May 1880
12		Sir Frederick Weld	16 May 1880	17 October 1887
13		Sir Cecil Clementi Smith	17 October 1887	30 August 1893
—		William Edward Maxwell Acting Governor	30 August 1893	1 February 1894
14		Sir Charles Mitchell Died while in office	1 February 1894	7 December 1899
—		James Alexander Swettenham Acting Governor	7 December 1899	5 November 1901
					Edward VII
15		Sir Frank Swettenham	5 November 1901	16 April 1904
16		Sir John Anderson	16 April 1904	2 September 1911
					George V
17		Sir Arthur Henderson Young	2 September 1911	17 February 1920
18		Sir Laurence Guillemard	17 February 1920	3 June 1927
19		Sir Hugh Clifford	3 June 1927	21 October 1929
—		Sir John Scott Acting Governor	21 October 1929	5 February 1930
20		Sir Cecil Clementi	5 February 1930	17 February 1934
—		Sir Andrew Caldecott Acting Governor	17 February 1934	9 November 1934
		Sir Shenton Thomas	9 November 1934	15 February 1942
21
					Edward VIII
					George VI
Japanese occupation of Singapore From 15 February 1942 to 12 September 1945.
British Military Administration of the Straits Settlements From 12 September 1945 to 31 March 1946.						George VI
—		Lord Louis Mountbatten British High Command	12 September 1945	31 March 1946
British Straits Settlements
21		Sir Shenton Thomas	12 September 1945	31 March 1946
Singapore became a separate Crown Colony

See also

• Colonial Secretary, Straits Settlements
• List of Chief Secretaries of Singapore
• Legislative Council of the Straits Settlements
• Governors of Singapore
• History of Singapore
• History of Malaysia
• Governor of Penang