Stamford Raffles

Sir Thomas Stamford Bingley Raffles was a British colonial official who helped shape the history of Southeast Asia. He served as the governor of the Dutch East Indies from 1811 to 1816 and later as lieutenant-governor of Bencoolen from 1818 to 1824. During this time, he was involved in the capture of the Indonesian island of Java from the Dutch during the Napoleonic Wars.

Raffles is best known for his role in establishing Singapore as a major trading port. In 1819, he secured control of the island from local rulers, creating a key point for maritime trade between Europe and Asia. This helped strengthen the British Empire’s influence in the region, even though his actions were not initially approved by the British government.

He also wrote a book called The History of Java in 1817, sharing what he learned about the island's past. The rare Rafflesia flowers were later named in his honor. Raffles returned to England in 1824 and passed away on his 45th birthday in 1826.

Today, his legacy in Singapore is remembered through places like the Raffles's Landing Site and many institutions that carry his name. However, some people also discuss his role in colonialism, noting that histories often focus less on the lives of people living there before his arrival.

Career

Thomas Stamford Bingley Raffles was born on 5 July 1781 on a ship called Ann near Port Morant, Jamaica. His father, Captain Benjamin Raffles, worked on ships that traveled between England and the West Indies. Raffles went to school in Hammersmith and later worked in London for the East India Company.

When he was 14, Raffles began working for the company, and at 23, he married Olivia Mariamne Devenish, a widow who was older than him. In 1805, he was sent to Penang Island in British Malaya, beginning his work in Southeast Asia. There, he worked under Philip Dundas, the governor of Penang, and met Thomas Otho Travers, who became a long-time friend and colleague.

Java Island

British invasion of Java

Raffles spoke the Malay language, which helped him gain support from Lord Minto, the governor-general of India. He was sent to Malacca.

In 1811, when the Kingdom of Holland was taken over by France during Napoleon's wars, Raffles led a military campaign against Dutch and French forces in Java, part of the Dutch East Indies. The British forces, led by Admiral Robert Stopford, General Frederick Augustus Wetherall, and Colonel Robert Rollo Gillespie, moved quickly against an army that was mostly made up of French soldiers without strong leaders.

The Dutch had built strong defenses at a place called Meester Cornelis, now Jatinegara. The British attacked and captured the fort in just three hours. The Dutch governor, Jan Willem Janssens, tried to escape but was caught.

Rule

While Raffles was in charge, he made peace agreements and led military actions against some local leaders. There were worries that the Yogyakarta Sultanate might attack, so Raffles led a force to capture the Royal Palace of Yogyakarta. The Yogyakarta forces were surprised and defeated quickly.

Raffles also sent an expedition to Palembang, Sumatra, to change the local leadership and to take control of Bangka Island to keep a British presence in the area.

Raffles tried to limit the local slave trade and changed some rules about how land was used. He also helped document important ancient buildings in Java, like Prambanan and the Buddhist temple of Borobudur.

When his wife, Olivia, passed away in 1814, Raffles was very sad. He returned to England in 1815 before Java was given back to the Netherlands after the Napoleonic Wars. He was replaced as leader of Java before the handover.

Interlude in England

In 1817, Raffles wrote and published The History of Java, a book about the island's history, geography, plants, and animals. That same year, he was made a Knight Bachelor by the Prince Regent George IV. Raffles also decided to use his middle name, 'Stamford,' instead of 'Thomas,' maybe to avoid confusion with others who shared his first name.

Later, on February 22, Raffles married his second wife, Sophia Hull, and they sailed together to Bencoolen (now called Bengkulu in Indonesia) where he would begin his new job.

Bencoolen and Malaya

Raffles arrived in Bencoolen on Sumatra on 19 March 1818 and became its lieutenant-governor on 22 March 1818. Bencoolen was a quiet colony that mainly exported pepper. Raffles found the place in poor condition and started making changes, like ending slavery and stopping games such as cockfighting. He used convicts from India to help replace the slaves.

Raffles wanted a stronger British presence in the area to challenge the Dutch and to find a place that could make money. He looked at places like Bangka, Bintan, and the Riau Archipelago near the Malay Peninsula. He tried to talk to the Dutch to increase British influence but had limited success. He also visited Padang to support Britain’s claim, but found that local leaders had only small control over the area.

Founding of modern Singapore

Main article: Founding of modern Singapore

Major-General William Farquhar, the British Resident of Malacca, tried to make deals with local leaders of the Riau Archipelago. Farquhar signed a deal with the Raja Muda (Regent or Crown Prince) of Riau.

Raffles went to Malacca in late 1818 to set up a British place in the Riau area, especially in a place called Singapura. He got permission to create a settlement there. The city was in a good spot for trade, but Raffles was told not to upset the Dutch.

In January 1819, Raffles landed at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula and found no Dutch presence on the island of Singapore. He made a deal with local leaders for trade and British protection. A few days later, a leader named Hussein Shah signed a formal treaty with the British. Raffles declared the start of what would become modern Singapore on 6 February.

Raffles also tried to set up a British place in Achin on the northern tip of Sumatra, but faced problems with local leaders and the Dutch. By May 1819, the small group of people in Singapore had grown to thousands. Raffles wanted to open up trade with China and Japan from this new settlement.

Bencoolen, once again

Raffles returned to his role as lieutenant-governor of Bencoolen. He introduced reforms that became well-known during his time in charge. He stopped forced labour and made Bencoolen a free port. He also set up committees to help manage the colony better.

Bencoolen faced many challenges, as it was a poorer area with health problems. Raffles worked on long-term plans to improve the colony slowly. He allowed local leaders to have power in their areas and focused on educating children. He respected the local culture and religions, allowing Muslim practices and starting Christian schools through missionaries.

Administration of Bencoolen, 1820–1822

Raffles returned to Bencoolen when he was not feeling well, but he got better and kept learning about the place he now called home. He studied the Batak people of Tapanuli and learned about their traditions and rules. He also noticed the growth of the Sikh religion in parts of Sumatra.

By 1820, Tengku Long had become the Sultan of Johor recognized by the British, but the political situation was complicated. Raffles appointed Travers as the Resident of Singapore to help manage things there. Travers found Singapore to be a lively mix of many different people and cultures, with over six thousand living there. Trade in Singapore was also growing, even surpassing that of Java.

Raffles also collected samples of plants and animals and wrote about them in his journals. He learned about other tribes and their customs, including their religions and laws. He worked to bring the island of Nias under British control and noted that the people there were well-organized and produced a lot of rice.

However, growing enough food was still a challenge. Raffles looked closely at how the Chinese farmed and tried new ways to improve food production. Despite his efforts, his focus on nature and preservation was not always supported by his employers, the East India Company, who were more interested in making money. There were discussions in Calcutta and London about possibly removing him from his position.

During this time, Raffles faced personal difficulties. Sadly, his children fell ill, and some did not survive. Despite these challenges, he continued his work and eventually decided to visit Singapore before returning to England with his wife and their remaining child. In 1822, Raffles was elected a member of the American Antiquarian Society.

Singapore (1822–1823)

Raffles returned to Singapore in October 1822 and was very happy to see how much the place had grown. It had become a busy center for trade and business. However, the leader at the time, Farquhar, had some problems, like letting merchants use government land and allowing activities that were not allowed. To fix these issues, Raffles made new rules and created a plan for the town called the Jackson Plan. This plan organized the city in a smart way, even though it gave the best land to Europeans.

Raffles also made many new laws to keep Singapore fair and orderly. He set up a system to register all land, created a police force, and banned things like gambling and other unwholesome activities. He started a school called Raffles Institution and worked hard to make sure everyone was treated fairly, no matter their background. In June 1823, Raffles left Singapore, feeling his work was done, but sadly, his youngest daughter passed away a few months later.

Return to Britain and death

When Sir Stamford Raffles returned to Britain, he and his wife stayed in Cheltenham to rest until September 1824. Later, they moved to London, where Raffles planned to join the parliament. However, this did not happen.

Raffles loved studying plants and animals. He joined the Linnean Society of London and helped start the Zoological Society of London and the London Zoo.

Sadly, Raffles faced financial troubles and fell very ill. He passed away on his 45th birthday, 5 July 1826, at his home in Mill Hill, north London.

Because of his views against unfair treatment of people, he was not allowed to be buried in the local church. His resting place was only found many years later. He is remembered for his work and collections, which were later given to the British Museum by his nephew.

Memorial sculpture in Westminster Abbey, London

A large statue made of white marble by Sir Francis Chantrey shows Raffles sitting in Westminster Abbey in London, England. The statue was finished in 1832 and can be found in the north choir aisle.

The words on the statue say:

To the memory of Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, L.L.D. F.R.S. Lieut. Governor of Java and first President of the Zoological Society of London. Born 1781 Died 1826. Selected at an early age to conduct the government of the British conquests in the Indian ocean, by wisdom, vigour, and philanthropy, he raised Java to happiness and prosperity unknown under former rulers. After the surrender of that island to the Dutch, and during his government in Sumatra he founded an emporium at Singapore, where in establishing freedom of person as the right of the soil, and freedom of trade as the right of the port, he secured to the British flag the maritime superiority of the eastern seas. Ardently attached to science, he laboured successfully to add to the knowledge and enrich the museums of his native land, in promoting the welfare of the people committed to his charge, he sought the good of his country, and the glory of God.

Legacy

In Singapore and around the world, many places, schools, and things are named after Stamford Raffles. He helped give scientific names to animals and plants, like the crab-eating macaque and a special kind of pitcher plant called Rafflesia, which has very large flowers.

Many buildings, streets, and schools in Singapore carry his name, such as Raffles Hotel and Raffles Institution. There are also statues of him in public places in Singapore. His name is remembered in many ways, showing how he helped shape the area.