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Stamford Raffles facts for kids

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The Honourable
Sir Stamford Raffles
FRS
StamfordRaffles.jpeg
Lieutenant-Governor of Bencoolen
In office
1818–1824
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
Appointed by Earl of Minto
Preceded by Robert Rollo Gillespie
Succeeded by John Fendall Jr.
Personal details
Born
Thomas Stamford Bingley Raffles

(1781-07-05)5 July 1781
Off the coast of Port Morant, Jamaica
Died 5 July 1826(1826-07-05) (aged 45)
Highwood House, Highwood Hill, Middlesex, London, England
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
  • Charlotte Raffles (1818–1822)
  • Leopard Raffles (1819–1821)
  • Stanford Marsden Raffles (1820–1822)
  • Ella Sophia Raffles (1821–1840)
  • Flora Nightingale Raffles (1823–1823)
Parents
  • Benjamin Raffles (father)
  • Anne Lyde (mother)
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

  • COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Gedenksteen van T.S. Raffles de oprichter van 's Lands Plantentuin voor zijn vrouw O.M. Raffles langs de Kanarielaan in 's Lands Plantentuin te Buitenzorg West-Java TMnr 10016615

    The memorial to Olivia Mariamne Raffles, Raffles's first wife, erected by him along the Kanarielaan in the National Botanical Gardens (now the Bogor Botanical Gardens). Raffles re-landscaped these gardens, which were established in 1744 in Buitenzorg (now Bogor), West Java.

  • Southern Sumatra, De Grote Winkler Prins Encyclopedia 1910

    Territory of Bencoolen (pink)

  • StamfordRaffles

    Stamford Raffles

  • Stamford Raffles statue Crop

    Statue of Sir Stamford Raffles in Singapore, based on the original by Thomas Woolner

  • Plan of the Town of Singapore (1822) by Lieutenant Philip Jackson original

    The Plan of the Town of Singapore, also known more commonly as the Jackson Plan or Raffles Town Plan

  • Singapore from the Sea June 1823 - Lt. Phillip Jackson

    A view of Singapore from the sea, sketched by Lt. Philip Jackson shortly before Raffles's departure in 1823. Found amongst documents belonging to Raffles.

  • RafflesArms1

    Arms of Stamford Raffles

  • Stamford Raffles, Westminster Abbey 02

    Raffles statue in Westminster Abbey

  • Nutmeg Tree - 40 drawings of plants at Bencoolen, Sumatra (c.1824) - BL NHD 48-23

    Fragrant nutmeg (Myristica fragrans)

  • Durio Zibethinus (Bombacaceae) - 40 drawings of plants at Bencoolen, Sumatra (c.1824) - BL NHD 48-20

    Durian (Durio zibethinus)

  • Bay Owl - 51 drawings of birds and mammals at Bencoolen, Sumatra (c.1824) - BL NHD 47-34

    Oriental bay owl (Phodilus badius)

  • Malay Apple - 40 drawings of plants at Bencoolen, Sumatra (c.1824) - BL NHD 48-26

    Malay apple (Syzygium malaccense)

  • Blue-Backed Parrot - 51 drawings of birds and mammals at Bencoolen, Sumatra (c.1824) - BL NHD 47-33

    Blue-backed parrot (Tanygnathus everetti)

  • Lansium Domesticum - 40 drawings of plants at Bencoolen, Sumatra (c.1824) - BL NHD 48-19

    Langsat (Lansium parasiticum)

  • Otter Civet - 51 drawings of birds and mammals at Bencoolen, Sumatra (c.1824) - BL NHD 47-45

    Otter civet (Cynogale bennettii)

  • Crested Fireback Pheasant - 51 drawings of birds and mammals at Bencoolen, Sumatra (c.1824) - BL NHD 47-44

    Crested fireback (Lophura ignita)

See also

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