Stamford Raffles facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir Stamford Raffles
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Lieutenant-Governor of Bencoolen | |
In office 1818–1824 |
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Preceded by | Newly Created George John Siddons Resident of Bencoolen |
Succeeded by | Abolished John Prince Resident of Bencoolen |
2nd Lieutenant-Governor of the Dutch East Indies | |
In office 1811–1816 |
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Appointed by | Earl of Minto |
Preceded by | Robert Rollo Gillespie |
Succeeded by | John Fendall Jr. |
Personal details | |
Born |
Thomas Stamford Bingley Raffles
5 July 1781 Off the coast of Port Morant, Jamaica |
Died | 5 July 1826 Highwood House, Highwood Hill, Middlesex, London, England |
(aged 45)
Cause of death | Brain tumour |
Resting place | St Mary's Church, Hendon, London, England |
Nationality | British |
Spouse(s) |
Olivia Mariamne Devenish
(m. 1805; died 1814)Sophia Hull
(m. 1817–1826) |
Children |
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Parents |
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Relatives | William Charles Raffles Flint (nephew) |
Residence(s) | Highwood House, Highwood Hill, Middlesex, London, England |
Occupation | British Colonial Official |
Known for | Founding of Singapore |
Notable work | The History of Java (1817) |
Sir Thomas Stamford Bingley Raffles, FRS (5 July 1781 – 5 July 1826) was a British statesman, Lieutenant-Governor of the Dutch East Indies (1811–1816) and Lieutenant-Governor of Bencoolen (1818–1824), best known for his founding of modern Singapore and the British Malaya.
He was heavily involved in the conquest of the Indonesian island of Java from Dutch and French military forces during the Napoleonic Wars and contributed to the expansion of the British Empire. He also wrote The History of Java (1817).
Early years
Raffles was born on a ship Ann to Captain Benjamin Raffles and Anne Raffles. Although his family was in debt, they managed to give him money for his education. When he was 14, he started working as a clerk in the British East India Company. The company sent him to Southeast Asia to look for another port as the trade between Britain and China is increasing.
He married Olivia Mariamne Fancourt, who was a widow of Jacob Cassivelaun Fancourt, an assistant surgeon in Madras who had died in 1800.
Founding of Singapore
When the British East India Company sent Raffles to Southeast Asia to look for a port, the company already had two ports, Penang and Bencoolen. However, these two ports were at a place far from the main trading area, the Straits of Melaka. Dutch's ports, Melaka and Java, were closer to the trading area, which made them able to control the trade. They cut off the trade between Penang and the important trading centres at the Malay Archipelago.
The British East India Company thus needed a new port south of Melaka to protect British ships, and so they chose Singapore for it had a lot of drinking water and a good location, in the centre of the Straits of Melaka.
Images for kids
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Statue of Sir Stamford Raffles in Singapore, based on the original by Thomas Woolner
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Fragrant nutmeg (Myristica fragrans)
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Durian (Durio zibethinus)
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Malay apple (Syzygium malaccense)
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Langsat (Lansium parasiticum)
See also
- In Spanish: Thomas Stamford Raffles