List of chief secretaries of Singapore facts for kids

The Resident Councillor and later the Colonial Secretary were important government jobs in colonial Singapore. These roles were part of the British administration that governed Singapore for many years. Think of them as high-ranking managers who helped the main leader, the Governor of the Straits Settlements, run the country.

These positions changed over time as Singapore's government evolved. First, there were Resident Councillors, then Colonial Secretaries, and finally Chief Secretaries, each playing a key part in Singapore's history before it became an independent nation.

Early Leaders: Resident Councillors of Singapore (1826-1867)

The Resident Councillor was the top British official in Singapore, second only to the Governor of the Straits Settlements. This role was active when Singapore was part of the Straits Settlements, a group of British territories in Southeast Asia. These officials helped manage daily affairs and keep order.

№	Portrait	Name	Took office	Left office	Governor
1		John Prince	15 August 1826	18 November 1827	Robert Fullerton
2		Kenneth Murchison	29 November 1827	6 December 1833	Robert Ibbetson
3		Sir Samuel George Bonham	7 December 1833	18 November 1836	Kenneth Murchison
4		Thomas Church	4 March 1837	20 September 1856	William John Butterworth
5		Henry Somerset MacKenzie	22 September 1856	13 July 1859	Edmund Augustus Blundell
—		Colonel Ronald MacPherson	10 March 1859	7 October 1860	William Orfeur Cavenagh
6		Colonel Ronald MacPherson	8 October 1860	31 March 1867	William Orfeur Cavenagh

New Role: Colonial Secretaries of the Straits Settlements (1867–1942)

In 1867, the Straits Settlements became a "Crown Colony," meaning it was directly controlled by the British government. With this change, the role of Resident Councillor was replaced by the Colonial Secretary. This new position had even more power and responsibility in managing the colony.

№	Portrait	Name	Took office	Left office	Governor
1		Colonel Ronald MacPherson	1 April 1867	6 December 1869	Sir Harry St. George Ord
—		E W Shaw	7 December 1869	5 June 1870	Sir Harry St. George Ord
2		James Wheeler Woodford Birch	6 June 1870	4 November 1874	Sir Andrew Clarke
—		Thomas Braddell	4 November 1874	17 February 1876	Sir William Jervois
3		Sir John Douglas	17 February 1876	17 August 1878	Sir William Cleaver Francis Robinson
4		Sir Cecil Clementi Smith	3 September 1878	17 November 1885	Sir Frederick Weld
5		Sir John Frederick Dickson	17 November 1885	31 August 1891	Sir Cecil Clementi Smith
—		Arthur Philip Talbot	31 August 1891	9 March 1892	Sir Cecil Clementi Smith
6		William Edward Maxwell	9 March 1892	11 February 1895	Sir Charles Mitchell
7		James Alexander Swettenham	11 February 1895	7 December 1899	Sir Charles Mitchell
—		Sir Walter Egerton	7 December 1899	5 July 1901	James Alexander Swettenham
8		Sir William Thomas Taylor	5 July 1901	31 December 1904	Sir Frank Swettenham
9		Frederick George Penney	1 January 1905	13 April 1905	Sir John Anderson
—		Edward Lewis Brockman	13 April 1905	29 June 1906	Sir John Anderson
10		Sir Arthur Young	29 June 1906	31 January 1911	Sir John Anderson
11		Edward Lewis Brockman	1 February 1911	4 September 1911	Sir Arthur Young
12		Richard James Wilkinson	4 September 1911	February 1916	Sir Arthur Young
—		William George Maxwell	February 1916	April 1916	Sir Arthur Young
13		Sir Frederick Seton James	April 1916	19 March 1924	Sir Laurence Guillemard
—		George Hemmant	19 March 1924	2 April 1924	Sir Laurence Guillemard
14		Edward Shaw Hose	2 April 1924	21 November 1925	Sir Laurence Guillemard
15		Sir Hayes Marriott	21 November 1925	16 December 1928	Sir Hugh Clifford
—		George Hemmant	16 December 1928	12 February 1929	Sir Hugh Clifford
16		Sir John Scott	12 February 1929	23 May 1933	Sir Cecil Clementi
17		Sir Andrew Caldecott	23 May 1933	7 December 1935	Sir Shenton Thomas
18		Sir Alexander Sym Small	7 December 1935	19 January 1940	Sir Shenton Thomas
19		Stanley Wilson Jones	19 January 1940	27 January 1942	Sir Shenton Thomas
—		Hugh Fraser	27 January 1942	15 February 1942	Sir Shenton Thomas

After the War: Colonial Secretaries of Singapore (1946-1955)

After World War II, the Straits Settlements were dissolved. Singapore became a separate Crown Colony. The role of Colonial Secretary continued, but now specifically for Singapore. These secretaries helped rebuild the country after the war and prepared it for more self-governance.

№	Portrait	Name	Took office	Left office	Governor
1		Sir Patrick Alexander Bruce McKerron	1 April 1946	29 April 1950	Sir Franklin Charles Gimson
—		J D M Smith	29 April 1950	30 June 1950	Sir Franklin Charles Gimson
2		Wilfred Lawson Blythe	30 June 1950	30 July 1953	Sir John Fearns Nicoll
3		William Allmond Codrington Goode	30 July 1953	February 1955	Sir John Fearns Nicoll

Towards Self-Rule: Chief Secretaries of Singapore (1955-1959)

In 1955, Singapore gained more control over its own affairs. The Colonial Secretary position was renamed Chief Secretary. This change reflected Singapore's journey towards becoming fully self-governing. The Chief Secretary worked closely with the newly formed local government.