Thomas Braddell facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sir Thomas Braddell CMG FRGS
Acting Colonial Secretary of Straits Settlements
In office 1874–1875
Monarch	Queen Victoria
Governor	Andrew Clarke
Preceded by	James W. W. Birch
Succeeded by	William Willans (Acting)
Attorney-General of Singapore
In office 1 April 1867 – 1 January 1883
Preceded by	new position
Succeeded by	John Augustus Harwood
Personal details
Born	30 January 1823 Rahingrany, County Wicklow, Ireland
Died	19 September 1891(1891-09-19) (aged 68) South Kensington, London, England
Spouse	Anne Lee ​ (m. 1852⁠–⁠1891)​
Relations	Sir Edward Marsh Merewether (son-in-law)
Children	Sir Thomas de Multon Lee Braddell (son), Robert Wallace Braddell (son), Honoria Clementina Mary Braddell (daughter) and another daughter
Relatives	Rev. Henry Braddell (grandfather) Roland St John Braddell (grandson)

Sir Thomas Braddell (30 January 1823 – 19 September 1891) was an Irish lawyer. He became the very first Attorney-General for the British Colony of Singapore. He was born in Rahingrany, County Wicklow, Ireland.

Early Life and Adventures

Thomas Braddell was born on January 30, 1823. His family lived at Raheengraney, which was his grandfather's property.

Sugar Planting in the Tropics

When he was almost 17, Thomas went to Demerara with his brother. They went to learn about growing sugar. Sadly, his brother died there in 1840.

In 1844, Thomas Braddell moved to Penang. He managed a sugar estate called Otaheite. This estate was in the Ayer Hitam Valley. Later, he became manager and part-owner of the Batu Kawan Estate. But this estate was flooded by a very high tide. The crops were lost, and the business ended.

A Career in Public Service

Police Work in Penang

On January 1, 1849, Mr. Braddell started working for the East India Company. He became the Deputy Superintendent of Police in Penang. He held several jobs in Penang, Province Wellesley, and Malacca.

He earned a big promotion for something brave he did. In 1854, serious riots broke out in Singapore. These problems spread to Malacca. Chinese groups took over parts of the countryside. They even built a fort on a main road. Mr. Braddell was in Malacca at the time. He took all the police he could find. They attacked the Chinese, took the fort, and stopped the riots quickly. The Governor publicly thanked him for his actions.

Becoming a Lawyer

Thomas Braddell wanted to do more. He decided to study law. Many of his relatives had been lawyers in Ireland. On June 10, 1859, he officially became a lawyer at Gray's Inn in London. In 1862, he left the East India Company. He moved to Singapore and started a law firm with Mr. Abraham Logan.

Singapore's First Attorney-General

In 1864, he was appointed as a Crown Counsel. When Singapore became a British Colony in 1867, he was made the first Attorney-General. He held this important job until the end of 1882.

In 1858, Mr. Braddell wrote a helpful booklet. It was called "Singapore and the Straits Settlements Described." This booklet talked about the best ways to govern the Straits Settlements. Many of his ideas were used when the new government was set up. He worked very hard and often stayed up late.

Many Important Roles

Besides his main job, Thomas Braddell was also a great Malay scholar. He wrote many articles for "Logan's Journal." He also collected information for a history book about Singapore. He never finished the book, but his work helped Mr. Charles Burton Buckley write "An Anecdotal History of Old Times in Singapore."

Mr. Braddell was one of the busiest people of his time. He had a large and successful law practice. His duties as Attorney-General were also very demanding. But he always found time to help the public. He was like other important people who used their free time to record the history of the area. They knew Singapore was becoming very important.

Helping Sir Andrew Clarke and the Pangkor Treaty

When Sir Andrew Clarke came to solve problems in the Native States, he trusted Mr. Braddell a lot. In 1875, he made Mr. Braddell the Colonial Secretary. Mr. Braddell helped a lot with the meeting that led to the Treaty of Pangkor in 1874. Sir Andrew said this treaty was a great success for the British.

Mr. Braddell was very popular with the Malay chiefs. They would come from all over to ask for his advice. He spoke Malay very well and was always polite. This helped him have a lot of influence.

Here is an example from Sir Andrew Clarke's diary: In February 1874, Sir Andrew Clarke and Admiral Sir Charles Shadwell went to Selangor. They arrived at Langat, where the Sultan of Selangor lived. This place was strongly protected with big guns. Sir Andrew wrote that the fort was full of "very villainous-looking Malays armed to the teeth."

Major John Frederick Adolphus McNair went ashore to ask the Sultan to come meet Sir Andrew. But the Sultan refused. After waiting three hours, Major McNair returned without success.

Then, Sir Andrew's diary says: "Braddell, my Attorney-General, then landed alone, smoking a cigar, as if for a stroll. He walked through the town, past the guards, and quietly stepped into the Sultan's palace. Braddell speaks Malay better than a Malay, and knows their customs. It ended with him getting to the Sultan, who at last agreed to come on board."

Thomas Braddell, The Man

Mr. Buckley, who was Thomas Braddell's friend, spoke highly of him. He said Braddell was quick to understand things. He had a lot of energy and worked tirelessly. When he first came to Singapore, he was one of the most popular people there.

He was a great billiard player. He also enjoyed going to the theatre, even if the shows were not very good. He said it was a nice break from work.

Juries liked to hear him speak in court. He was kind-hearted and honest. He had a clear, pleasant voice and spoke simply. He had a nice face and manner. People said he looked very good in the new civil service uniform because he was tall and had a good build.

Later Years

Retirement After an Accident

Towards the end of 1882, Mr. Braddell had a bad carriage accident. Because of this, he had to retire from his job. Before he left, his friends and colleagues held a farewell dinner for him. The chief justice, Sir Thomas Sidgreaves, led the dinner. The governor was also there. Many important people attended.

The chief justice said that everyone was surprised by the news of his retirement. He said it felt like a "Colonial disaster" because Mr. Braddell was such an important part of Singapore. He was respected by everyone, and his absence would be greatly missed.

Death and Legacy

Thomas Braddell died in London on September 19, 1891. He was 68 years old. The Supreme Court in Singapore held a special meeting to honor him. Speeches were given by the attorney-general, Mr. Jonas Daniel Vaughan, and the chief justice, Sir Edward L. O'Malley.

The Singapore Free Press newspaper wrote about him. They said that many things in Singapore reminded people of him. They praised his honesty and good character. They said he left an "honored name" in Singapore's early history. Mr. Braddell was also very involved in Freemasonry.

Family Life

In 1852, Thomas Braddell married Miss Anne Lee. She was the daughter of William Lee, a well-known amateur cricketer. They had two sons and two daughters. One of their daughters, Honoria Clementina Mary Braddell, married Sir Edward Marsh Merewether. He later became the Governor of the Leeward Isles. She was also very active in theatre and music in Singapore.

Sir Thomas de Multon Lee Braddell

His elder son, Sir Thomas de Multon Lee Braddell, went to Singapore in 1879. He joined his father's law practice. He also had other partners later. Sir Thomas did not take part in public affairs much. But he did act as Attorney-General in 1898. He was also a Municipal Commissioner for a few years.

In 1907, he became a judge. In 1911, he became Attorney-General. He held that job until 1913. Then he moved to the Federated Malay States as Chief Judicial Commissioner. In 1914, he received a knighthood. He retired in 1917 and lived in England.

Like his father, Sir Thomas was a dedicated Freemason. He held important positions in Masonic lodges.

Sir Thomas was also a very good actor when he was younger. He performed in plays like Turned up and Two Roses in 1887. He also helped produce musical plays. He even coached older students at Raffles Girls' School in Shakespeare. He enjoyed tennis and billiards. He was a strong supporter of the Swimming Club. Everyone who knew him respected his character and hard work. He was always polite and firm in his work. Privately, he was kind and helpful to anyone who asked for his advice.

Sir Thomas de Multon Lee Braddell was born in Province Wellesley on November 25, 1856. He studied law and became a lawyer in 1879. He married Violet Ida Nassau in 1879. He died on January 31, 1927, after getting the flu.

Robert Wallace Braddell

Robert Wallace Glen Lee Braddell was born in 1859. He was Thomas Braddell's younger son. Robert also came to Singapore after his father retired. He practiced law with his brother, Sir Thomas, until 1906, when he retired. He was known as a very skilled lawyer, especially in criminal cases.

Robert was also a talented artist. He drew many caricatures. Some of his cartoons were published in the "Vanity Fair" series. He also wrote and drew for a book called "Straits Produce." He loved theatre and performed in many comic roles. He could also sing funny songs. The law firm he started with his brother, Braddell Brothers, is still in business today.

He was an excellent billiard and lawn tennis player. He won many championships in both games. He won the Oxford University tennis tournament in 1881. He also won several other tournaments in England in 1882.

He married Minnie, the daughter of Rev. Thomas Smith. Robert Wallace Braddell died on March 24, 1934.