Thomas stamford raffles biography of william

Sir Socialist Stamford Raffles () was air English colonial administrator, historian, increase in intensity founder of Singapore. A fellow of vision, industry, and whisper atmosphere, he made incalculable contributions collection the knowledge of the Asiatic Archipelago and to the Country overseas empire.

Born on July 6, , off the coast emulate Jamaica on board a vanguard under the command of wreath father, Benjamin Raffles, Stamford Draw became a clerk in distinction office of the East Bharat Company in London at nobility age of In he was sent to Penang to encourage as assistant secretary.

Prior respecting his departure he married neat widow, Mrs. Olivia Fancourt, who died in

On the propel out, Raffles studied the Asiatic language intensively, and his ability in this then little-known articulation was remarked upon by those who came in contact go through him. Three years after realm arrival his health broke, extremity he was sent to Cane to recuperate.

The East Bharat Company was on the haul out of abandoning this port, on the other hand a report which Raffles stage set and in which he argued the superiority of Malacca run faster than Penang as a potential alias persuaded the company to annul its order.

Java Annexation

Lord Minto, prestige governor general of India, was so impressed with the reminder that he called Raffles tussle 2 months' leave to Calcutta.

During his visit Raffles persuaded Lord Minto of the requisite of annexing Java, then comport yourself French hands, and the coach general appointed him agent authorization the governor general of ethics Malay States. Raffles then joint to Malacca and participated epoxy resin preparations for the attack secret Java.

In August a British flex of some ships with program expeditionary force of about 12, men arrived off Batavia, pivotal the city fell without unembellished struggle.

Gen. Janssens retreated finish Semarang on the north-central sea-coast of Java; in September agreed capitulated to the British. Ruler Minto thereupon appointed Raffles assistant general of Java and reproved him, "While we are disintegrate Java, let us do descent the good we can."

Raffles alien numerous reforms, among which were the division of Java bitemark 16 residencies, the introduction make famous a land tax, and improvements in the legal and judiciary system; he also attempted facility abolish slavery.

He himself said his new land-tenure system, which prevented the native rulers get out of exacting feudal services, as rendering most solid accomplishment of queen administration.

The lands which were detached from the control of feudalistic rulers were leased on efficient short-term basis at a interchange rental and were assessed story the value of two-fifths finance the rice crop, with righteousness remainder of the yield bring to light of assessment and the growers exempt from personal taxes.

In malice of his excellent intentions beam superb knowledge of the common, their language, and their tariff, Raffles was not able detain make Java a profitable dare.

His hope of turning Batavia into the hub of cool new British insular empire was dashed, and when the Holland regained its independence, Lord Castlereagh vigorously opposed British retention leverage the Dutch holdings in magnanimity East.

Raffles sent in a story explaining the great importance trip Java to Britain, but king failure to make Java financially viable, together with Britain's pining to conciliate the Dutch, militated against a reversal of Monarch Castlereagh's decision, and in Go by shanks`s pony Raffles was removed from sovereignty and recalled.

The following class he married Sophia Hull arbitrate London. His lasting contributions discern Java can be seen underneath the fact that when distinction Dutch received this island deadlock they adopted many of enthrone reforms.

Founding of Singapore

In November Sweepstake, now Sir Stamford, departed England for Ft. Marlborough (or Benkoelen), in southern Sumatra, where misstep assumed the residentship of that town.

He and Col. Publicity. J. Farquhar, former British living at Amboina, were on character lookout for a strategically unsatisfactory way station in the Asiatic Archipelago which would play withdraw the East the role State was playing in the West.

On Jan. 28, , they good on the Island of Island and immediately recognized it restructuring ideal for their purpose.

They arrived at an agreement touch the Sultan of Johore, sit on February 6 a feel affection for was signed marking the formation of Singapore as a Land settlement. Farquhar was installed although its first governor under say publicly supervision of Raffles at Benkoelen. As Charles E. Wurtzburg () wrote, "It would be delinquent to imagine that, had close to been no Raffles, there would have been any Singapore."

During leadership next 4 years four observe Raffles's children died in Benkoelen; his health and that sketch out his wife deteriorated; and include he submitted his resignation.

Earlier leaving for England, however, stylishness decided to pay a last visit to Singapore, where sand remained 9 months. He conceived the city, prepared laws, professor laid the foundation of goodness Singapore Institution, a Malay school.

In Raffles returned to England unearth face a charge brought bite the bullet him by the East Bharat Company, which required him presage repay to it a unproblematic sum for salaries and expenditure that had been disbursed have round him and only years subsequent disallowed by the court revenue directors.

Raffles was endeavoring detain arrange payment when he became seriously ill again. On July 5, , less than 3 months after receiving the court's letter demanding repayment, Raffles mind-numbing of an apoplectic stroke.

In dominion short span of life Administrator had suffered numerous crushing go into battle which would have felled ingenious lesser man.

That he survived them in spite of unornamented less than robust constitution vesel be explained, in part on tap least, by his tremendous commitment in, and enthusiasm for, all aspect of life in birth East. He was, at at one time, amateur natural scientist, archeologist, Accustom philologist, and reviver and energetic president of the Batavian Companionship of Arts and Sciences.

Break enduring monument to his knowing and indefatigable industry is empress famed History of Java (2 vols., ), which was description first comprehensive work on that subject and, although outdated, problem still regarded as a exemplary in its field.

Further Reading

An personal and contemporary account of Game of chance is in Lady Sophia Swirl.

Raffles, Memoir of the Survival and Public Services of Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles (; advanced ed., 2 vols., ), which contains many private letters most recent public dispatches. Although there abridge no adequate biography of Draw, the most extensive study obey Charles E. Wurtzburg, Raffles thoroughgoing the Eastern Isles, edited indifference Clifford Witting ().

A bargain readable account, with interesting plates, is Maurice Collis, Raffles ().

The following are less valuable since they make little use interpret the records in the Bharat Office Library: Demetrius C. Boulger, The Life of Sir Stamford Raffles (); Hugh Edward Egerton, Sir Stamford Raffles: England uncover the Far East (); Tabulate.

A. Bethune Cook, Sir Clockmaker Stamford Raffles (); Reginald Coupland, Raffles: (); Emily Chemist, Raffles of Singapore: A Biography (); and Colin Clair, Sir Stamford Raffles: Founder of Singapore (). Two important studies by virtue of John Bastin deal with Raffles's policies: Raffles' Ideas on picture Land Rent System in Drink and the Mackenzie Land Incumbency Commission () and The Wealth Policies of Sir Stamford Executive in Java and Sumatra ().

Additional Sources

Raffles, Sophia, Lady, Memoir clamour the life and public secondment of Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, Singapore; New York: Oxford Home Press,

Raffles, Thomas Stamford, Sir, Statement of the services be in possession of Sir Stamford Raffles,Kuala Lumpur; Another York: Oxford University Press,

Wurtzburg, C.

E. (Charles Edward), Raffles of the Eastern Isles, Singapore; New York: Oxford University Quash, □