kids encyclopedia robot

List of chief secretaries of Singapore facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

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, by George Chinnery.jpg

Robert Fullerton

2 Kenneth Murchison 29 November 1827 6 December 1833 Robert Ibbetson 1789-1850.jpg

Robert Ibbetson

3 Sir Samuel George Bonham.jpg Sir Samuel George Bonham 7 December 1833 18 November 1836 Kenneth Murchison
4 Thomas Church 4 March 1837 20 September 1856 William John Butterworth (cropped).jpg

William John Butterworth

5 Henry Somerset MacKenzie 22 September 1856 13 July 1859 Edmund Augustus Blundell
Ronald MacPherson.jpg Colonel Ronald MacPherson 10 March 1859 7 October 1860 Sir Orfeur Cavenagh.jpg

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 Ronald MacPherson.jpg Colonel Ronald MacPherson 1 April 1867 6 December 1869 HarryStGeorgeOrd-1877-1880.jpg

Sir Harry St. George Ord

E W Shaw 7 December 1869 5 June 1870 Sir Harry St. George Ord
2 J.W.W. Birch.gif James Wheeler Woodford Birch 6 June 1870 4 November 1874 Sir Andrew Clarke (1873) by G R Lambert.jpg

Sir Andrew Clarke

Thomas Braddell.jpg Thomas Braddell 4 November 1874 17 February 1876 William Jervois.jpg

Sir William Jervois

3 Sir John Douglas 17 February 1876 17 August 1878 Sir William Cleaver Francis Robinson
4 Cecil Clementi Smith.jpg Sir Cecil Clementi Smith 3 September 1878 17 November 1885 Frederick Weld.jpg

Sir Frederick Weld

5 John Frederick Dickson.jpg Sir John Frederick Dickson 17 November 1885 31 August 1891 Cecil Clementi Smith.jpg

Sir Cecil Clementi Smith

Arthur Philip Talbot 31 August 1891 9 March 1892 Sir Cecil Clementi Smith
6 Sir-William-Edward-Maxwell-1.jpg William Edward Maxwell 9 March 1892 11 February 1895 Charles Mitchell.jpg

Sir Charles Mitchell

7 James Alexander Swettenham.jpg James Alexander Swettenham 11 February 1895 7 December 1899 Sir Charles Mitchell
Walter Egerton.jpg Sir Walter Egerton 7 December 1899 5 July 1901 James Alexander Swettenham.jpg

James Alexander Swettenham

8 Sir William Thomas Taylor 5 July 1901 31 December 1904 Sir Frank Swettenham by John Singer Sargent 1904.jpg

Sir Frank Swettenham

9 Frederick George Penney 1 January 1905 13 April 1905 Sir john anderson.gif

Sir John Anderson

Edward Lewis Brockman.png Edward Lewis Brockman 13 April 1905 29 June 1906 Sir John Anderson
10 Sir Arthur Henderson Young.png Sir Arthur Young 29 June 1906 31 January 1911 Sir John Anderson
11 Edward Lewis Brockman.png Edward Lewis Brockman 1 February 1911 4 September 1911 Sir Arthur Henderson Young.png

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.png

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 Hugh Charles Clifford (The Straits Times, 15 October 1929).jpg

Sir Hugh Clifford

George Hemmant 16 December 1928 12 February 1929 Sir Hugh Clifford
16 Sir John Scott 12 February 1929 23 May 1933 SIRCECILCLEMENTIHKU.jpg

Sir Cecil Clementi

17 Sir Andrew Caldecott.jpg Sir Andrew Caldecott 23 May 1933 7 December 1935 Sir Thomas Shenton Whitelegge Thomas.png

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 Frank Gimson.jpg

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 John Fearns Nicoll2.jpg

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.

Portrait Name Took office Left office Governor
1 William Allmond Codrington Goode February 1955 9 December 1957 Sir Robert Brown Black
2 Edgeworth Beresford David 29 January 1958 2 June 1959 William Goode
kids search engine
List of chief secretaries of Singapore Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.