history is fun

I think Raffles is the founder.

Evan Cheok
Hang Ying Yao
Teo Chia Yin
2D

03 Jul 2007 AM 11:48

Stanford Raffles was the founder of Singapore.

Singapore was founded as a British colony by Sir Stamford Raffles in 1819. He was largely responsible for the creation of Great Britain's Far Eastern empire. Today the Raffles Hotel in Singapore stands as a reminder of his work and a testimony to the past glories of the empire.

Thomas Stamford Raffles was born aboard ship near Jamaica in the West Indies on July 6, 1781. He grew up in a poor English family and was forced to leave school at the age of 14 to work. He entered the service of the East India Company and advanced himself slowly by hard work, long hours, and persistent study. At 23 he was appointed assistant secretary to the colonial government at Penang in the Malay archipelago. In 1811, when the British navy invaded Java to clear it of Dutch and French traders, Raffles went along and was made lieutenant governor of this multi-island colony. Ill health forced his return to London in 1816. There his studies of East Indian peoples won him election to the Royal Society and also a knighthood.

By 1818 Raffles conceived a plan to found a fort east of the Strait of Malacca to safeguard British shipping to the China seas. On Jan. 29, 1819, he landed on the island at the southern tip of Malaya and established the fort of Singapore. After spending three years at his post in Sumatra, Raffles returned to Singapore and organized the administration of the colony. In 1824 the Dutch relinquished all claim to the island. In failing health he returned to London, where he was again proclaimed as the scholar of the Orient. He helped found the London Zoo and served as its first president. He died in London of a brain tumor on July 5, 1826.

Statue of Sir Thomas Stanford Raffles at the Singapore River

03 Jul 2007 AM 11:51

raffles' vision + farquhar's energy + crawfurd's shrewdness = Singapore

viyshnu
noel
jieren

03 Jul 2007 AM 11:53

If I were to ask the question, "Who was the founder of Singapore?" I am fairly sure that most people would reply, "Raffles, of course." However, to a historian, both the question and the reply are problematic.

(a) What do we mean by 'founder' ? Which 'Singapore' are we talking of? The founder is the person who starts a particular institution or organisation, often by providing the necessary funds and support. When the entity is a country or state, the problem is compounded. If we are referring to ancient Singapore, or Singapura, the Sejarah Melayu or Malay Annals, a mythistorical work, would declare that its founder was Sang Nila Utama or Sri Tri Buana, a.k.a. Iskander to the Malays and Parameswara to the Portuguese. If you are referring to modern or contemporary Singapore, most Singaporeans would answer, "Mr Lee Kuan Yew". And for a long time, when you asked who founded colonial Singapore, the straight answer would be "Raffles".

(b) However, in teaching History at NUS, more particularly the history of Singapore, as well as the history of imperial expansion, I have been at pains to teach historiography as well as 'history'. In dealing with the so-called 'founding' of colonial Singapore, my own research as well as teaching has been to reappraise the claims of various persons to have founded the British settlement of Singapore. Some of my findings have been expressed in chapter 3 of the book, A History of Singapore, which I co-edited with Edwin Lee. I pointed out that Raffles indeed was the main contender, with his claim that Singapore was 'a Child of my own' and 'my new Colony'. However, "If he [Raffles] is to be honoured as the founder and architect of the British 'factory' in Singapore, then the early and enterprising builders (who modified his designs) should also be commemorated: the first two British Residents, Farquhar (1819-23) and Crawfurd (1823-6), along with the known Malay, Arab, Bugis, Chinese, Indian, and European notables (mostly traders), and the numberless, unnamed pioneering settlers" (38). I also noted that "it was Farquhar who worked alongside the Malay rulers for four years to secure the survival and growth of the British settlement on Singapore Island. Raffles himself supervised Farquhar's administration fitfully from his backwater post of Bencoolen in West Sumatra. He visited Singapore thrice: for nine days in Jan-Feb 1819, about 4 weeks in May-June that year, and – after more than three years' absence – for eight months from October 1822 to June 1823." Indeed, Farquhar after his dismissal claimed that he was at least a co-founder, and on his tombstone in Perth, Scotland, it is inscribed that he "founded" the settlement of Singapore! Finally, it was John Crawfurd, another Scotsman, who actually made Singapore British, by signing the Anglo-Malay treaty of August 1824, by which Sultan Hussein and Temenggong Abdul-Rahman ceded the Island to the British.

(c) How then are we to view these claims. Was it a case of "Three Men and a Baby"? Undoubtedly, it was Raffles who took the main initiative in the search for a British base at the southern mouth of the Malacca Straits, who secured Governor-General Lord Hastings' authorisation, and who chose Singapore in preference to the Kerimuns, which Farquhar favoured. He signed the initial treaties for the joint Anglo-Malay condominium, and strongly advocated the retention of Singapore over Dutch protests. He laid down the original plans and policies, and had a vision of what Singapore could and would become. However, it was left to two practical Scotsmen to work out the administrative and financial details, and economic incentives which attracted increasing numbers to Singapore. In this case, as in many others, it was a joint enterprise and endeavour of many people, which contributed to the founding and growth of Singapore.

As Dr C.M.Turnbull has nicely expressed it,

Singapore was fortunate in her three early pioneer administrators: Raffles, a man of extraordinary vision, but for whom Singpaore would never have existed; Farquhar, who by his energy, good sense and courage, nursed the infant settlement through its first dangerous years; and Crawfurd, shrewd and sensible, with his feet planted firmly on the ground, who converted into reality Raffles' most practical dreams. [...] Despite this long association, Crawfurd's name, like Farquhar's, has faded almost into obscurity, and of Singapore's pioneers only Raffles' fame and reputation have grown over the years...." (30)

03 Jul 2007 AM 11:54

she had a deep harbour , suitable for many big ships to anchor

03 Jul 2007 AM 11:55

It was William Farquhar as he was one of the finders of singapore, he had a malay wife then like the malay wife and family like the region and the region like the william the farquhar the malay wife then he very smart go take care of the Singapore for a few years because Raffles tell him to take care of Singapore and they pangsei him. by daniel teo

03 Jul 2007 AM 11:57

Raffles is the real founder of Singapore as all the history textbooks say so. He also has a statue, many have known Raffles since young but not knowing Farquar and Crawfurd, Raffles also has an MRT station under his name, and Farqhuar and Crawfurd do not have. Farqhuar was Raffles' assistant and could not be a founder ahead of his master. Crawfurd was the 2nd resident in Singapore and therefore was only behind the scenes, not founding Singapore.

James Chang short
Jonathan Teo
Kaine Yeo

03 Jul 2007 AM 11:58

Raffles was the founder of Singapore. This can be proven as he was the head of the first group of Europeans who set foot in Singapore. William Farqhuar then helped him to govern his newfound country while he was away. As a result, many have the misconception that he was the founder of Singapore, who was actually raffles.
Yutian Yufan Jaren

03 Jul 2007 AM 11:58

Stamford Raffles laid the foundation stone therefore he is the founder. William Farquhar just assisted Raffles and Crawfurd just signed the final treaty to bring Singapore inder colonial rule

Darren
Shao Wei
Kai Tai
2D

03 Jul 2007 AM 11:58

Thomas Stamford Raffles is the founder of modern Singapore.He believed that Singapore was a great place for the British to start a new trading settlement.He was a great man and he died a day before his 45th birthday in 1826. In Singapore, a number of landmarks have been named after him: Raffles College, Raffles Institution, Raffles Hotel, Stamford Road, Stamford House.


Eugene
Manudeep
James Chang(short)

03 Jul 2007 AM 11:58

i m waihong i think that all were the founder of singapore

03 Jul 2007 AM 11:59

sir stamford raffles was the founder of singapore. singapore was founded by him in 1819. sir stamfordraffles decided to make singapore a trading port as the location was ideal.

Alvin
Marcus
Haaziq

03 Jul 2007 PM 12:00

Raffles, Farquhar and Crawfurd are the founders of Singapore.
Quoted from text,
"As Dr C.M.Turnbull has nicely expressed it,

Singapore was fortunate in her three early pioneer administrators: Raffles, a man of extraordinary vision, but for whom Singpaore would never have existed; Farquhar, who by his energy, good sense and courage, nursed the infant settlement through its first dangerous years; and Crawfurd, shrewd and sensible, with his feet planted firmly on the ground, who converted into reality Raffles' most practical dreams. Despite this long association, Crawfurd's name, like Farquhar's, has faded almost into obscurity, and of Singapore's pioneers only Raffles' fame and reputation have grown over the years...."
They have started the colonial Singapore, and will forever be remembered as the founders.


2D

Si Kai(25)
Nicholas(26)
Yuan Long(8)

03 Jul 2007 PM 12:00

We agree that Raffles is the founder as Farquhar only helped govern Singapore 4 years after Raffles left, based on Raffle's views. Crawfurd arrived in 1823 to take over Farquhar's post; he was previously a British envoy to Siam.

Lim Hong Kuang
Wu Zheng Feng
Chang Ming Wei James
2D

03 Jul 2007 PM 12:00

I think Raffles is the founder. This is because Farquhar was only chosen to help locate a suitable place for a trading centre. Crawfurd was merely a governor of Singapore, and did not really help in the founding. Raffles founded Singapore because he needed a suitable port for trading with China and India.

Evan Cheok
Hang Ying Yao
Teo Chia Yin
2D

03 Jul 2007 PM 12:00

Crawfurd was also instrumental in bringing about the Treaty of Friendship and Alliance between the East India Company, Sultan Hussein Shah and the Temenggong in August 1824. The treaty gave the East India Company all rights to Singapore and all islands within ten miles of her shores. In return, the chiefs were given land in Singapore and would receive substantial monetary compensation should they decide to leave Singapore permanently. The treaty effectively ended any native control of Singapore, and, together with the Anglo-Dutch Treaty of London of 1824, in which the Dutch agreed to surrender all claims on Singapore, it entrenched the British firmly as the government of Singapore. Some historians argue that he was the true "founder of Singapore" as a result of this treaty.

03 Jul 2007 PM 12:00

raffles made himself popular so that evryone thinks he is the founder then he defame farquhar by coining a new vulgarity

03 Jul 2007 PM 12:01

Crawfurd was also instrumental in bringing about the Treaty of Friendship and Alliance between the East India Company, Sultan Hussein Shah and the Temenggong in August 1824. The treaty gave the East India Company all rights to Singapore and all islands within ten miles of her shores. In return, the chiefs were given land in Singapore and would receive substantial monetary compensation should they decide to leave Singapore permanently. The treaty effectively ended any native control of Singapore, and, together with the Anglo-Dutch Treaty of London of 1824, in which the Dutch agreed to surrender all claims on Singapore, it entrenched the British firmly as the government of Singapore. Some historians argue that he was the true "founder of Singapore" as a result of this treaty.

03 Jul 2007 PM 12:01

I guess we can say that all 3 personalities, Raffles, W. Farquhar & John Crawfurd were instrumental in turning a so called 'sleepy' fishing village to a bustling port. It is important that students understand that many pple contributed to Singapore's success. At the same time, are we forgetting the immigrants who toiled and laboured hard for Singapore? The Chinese, Indian and Malay immigrants who had to leave their hometown and families behind and laboured under the hot sun. Did they not contribute to the prosperity of Singapore. Don't they then deserve due recognition? Think about it guys =)

03 Jul 2007 PM 02:14

in my view i think that raffles was the one who founded singapore as he was the one as he was the one who saw the potential in singapore becoming a thriving shipping port.The role of John Crawfurd was just to be something like a governer to controlthe port.the role of W. Farquhar was just in a kind of away assist Raffles in finding a suitable location for a port.But Raffles wa the one who had the foresight of singapore slow fishing village to a busy port


narendhar(24) , farhaan(21)
2D

i think that different people brought singapore into different times.like raffles colonized singapore while lee kuan yew founded morden singapore

We think Raffles is the founder of Singapore because if Raffles had not spotted Singapore, nothing would had happended. He was the one who ordered William Farquhar and John Crawfurd. This shows that Raffles has the power as he was the founder of Singapore.

Agilan Subramaniam
Lim Ting Zhou
Jiang Naipeng

We think that all the people ( Raffles, Farquhar, Crawfurd, Pioneers AND the native malays) founded Singapore. Singapore would not exist without any of the above. Farquhar cleared the vegetation, build settelements and cleared the pest. Raffles signed the treaty that made singapore a colony of the British.

Desmond Neo (6)
Emmanuel Toh (35)
Nathaniel Quek (27)
Chan Nicholas (3)

2H...

Raffles is the founder of Singapore. HE was the one who the one who signed the treaty to set up a british settlement. HE left it in Farquhar's care. HE was the one who fought hard to keep his new settlement. Farquhar is NOT the founder. NOR was Crawfurd, or the pioneers.

shane tham
clement tan
joshua chong
ryan tay
2H

We think Farquhar is the founder of Singapore.

Though Raffles was the one who initially began the idea of Singapore as a British port, Farquhar was undeniably the one who actually "set up" the new Singapore and solved the big problems that occurred back then.

Farquhar stayed in Singapore to actually live Raffles's idea. Raffles himself did not.

Taufik Khairi
Ziyad Bagharib
=)

we as a group think and believe that william farquhar was the actual founder of singapore. this is because,after raffles signed the treaty with the sultan and the temenggong, he left for bancoolen and gave the responsibilty to build singapore to Farquhar. and without Farquhar,the singapore settlement wont have expanded and singapore wouldnt be what it is today.

ps; this is what we think :P

Fawwaz firdous
Hafidzhin
Wisnuh
2H

Raffles is the official founder of Singapore.

However,I think William farquhar is the one who took on the responsibilities of a founder.

Andre Sim (29)
Sherman Lim (28)
Varun Singh (36)
Eugene Hsu (7)

We believe that Singapore was founded by all the mentioned people. This is because every figure has contributed equally to the founding and development of Singapore. for example Raffles came up with the idea of utilising Singapore as a port, after Raffles left, he handed the duty of developing Singapore to Farquhar and to some extent he was quite successful. The pioneers were responisble for making Singapore into what it was before the British took over.

Yaksh Birla
Woon Chen Ee
Lee Hai Quan
2H

Raffles was the founder of Singapore because he was the one who spotted Singapore as an ideal trading place. However, he passed the job of developing Singapore to William Farquhar.So, he was the one who found Singapore.

Nigel (2H)

I think Raffles is the founder.
He was the one who developed singapore to be a sucessful trading settlement. That is why there are statues of Raffles all around Singapore and also society named after him. And when there's trouble you know who to call. Raffles!as he aso signed the treaty to build the settlement and also without doing it with force,thus creating peace.

Isaac
Dorminic
Lam
Jason
2H

I think i found it!

I have to admit to having disparaging thoughts about Farquhar when I was younger as he was always the one who was sacked from his post.

Nevertheless, after reading in preparation for this unit, I have come to realise his importance in ensuring Singapore's existence.

The students of 2A and 2E will be able to share about an exercise we did called 'Raffles Raffles Everywhere', Raffles has come to be associated with quality, he has in a sense, become a brand name in Singapore. Raffles Montessori anybody?

This is indicative of popular perception that he was the sole founder of Singapore and this is somewhat unfair to both Farquhar and Crawfurd. When I last checked, there is no Farquhar Street whilst Crawfurd comes in with Crawford Street, Crawford Park and Crawford Bridge, our Pioneer roots are recognised somewhat during our National Day celebrations, National Day songs and television shows (especially during the 80s)and there is a Pioneer Road too!

Whilst I do not deny Raffles' importance, undeniably, Farquhar, Crawfurd and the Pioneers deserve their place on the pedestal as well, though one does have to admit The Farquhar Hotel doesn't quite have the same ring to it!

Mr Daryl Tan

Raffles is the founder.

Lu Si Rong
Julian Yap
Ng Ee Shuan
Gan Jia Chen
2H

I would say that Sri Tri Buana who, by right, founded Singapore. The word "Singapura" itself is not English. "Singa" comes from the Sanskrit word सिंह siṃha (lion) and pura (city). Sanskrit is one of the earliest members of the Indo-European family of languages. It's influence, from India (where it originated, is vividly seen in this region of the world and South Asia. He landed here, renamed the Island and introduced Singapore as a trading port from what I've read. Therefore, he should earn the credit.

I think it was Sir Stamford Raffles who found Singapore because he was the one who spent all the trouble to tke over Singapore and made it into a busy port.

Jia Chen
Si Rong
Julian
Ee Shuan
2H

It all depends on the what type of Singapore was founded. What I mean is that that different people. Mr. Lee Kuan Yew founded the modern and contemparary Singapore, Sang Nial Utama founded the Land of Singapore, Raffles and all the other, err.. angmohs.. founded the colonised Singapore. Raffles' contribution to Singapore should probably be the most important to many people , so as majority wins, it is then said that Raffles founded Singapore.

Sin Wai Hong
2B

i think raffles is the founder. he was the one who had the idea of finding a new place for trading. it was him who took the trouble to find the real sultan. and it was him who signed the treaty.

Tanmanjit
2B

Raffles may have founded Singapore, however, it was William Farquhar who take charge of Singapore for few years. He helped Singapore to solve many problems.

WeeBian

I think Raffles is the founder of singapore.


Wei An
2B

I believe Raffles should be given the credit. Unlike Sang Nila Utama, Raffles really 'founded' Singapore. Raffles let the world realised the existance of Singapore. Crawfurd and Farquhar were merely people who develop and contributed.

We can't say Mr. Lee KY was the founder of Singapore. Because Singapore already existed. Sang Nila Utama discovered Singapore but remained in silence, thus Singapore is unknown to the World. But Raffles is the true founder. Some of you might argue with me that Sang Nila Utama named Singapore. But in the same way Raffles can rename again. If he can get the permission from Sultan then he can probably give it another name. He didn't. Simply renaming the island does not mean founding the island. The Japanese once renamed Singapore, but they were the the founder.

Founder simply means someone who finds. However, he has to let others know about it. If not no one will credit him.

Haolin
2E

'The Japanese once renamed Singapore, but they were the the founder. '

Sorry, type too fast. It should be

'The Japanese once renamed Singapore, but they were NOT the the founder. '

Haolin
2E

As we don't really know who the founder of singapore really is,
why do we study social studies in primary school that raffles is the founder of singapore??

Raffles had the vision, but it was Faquahar who had the ideas and ability to build buildings and he was the architech of Singapore.
Crawfurd knew how to deal with the people and disipline them.
In conclusion, i feel that they should have honoured the trio together and have their statues together.

I felt that all of them are founders of Singapore.

-->If Raffles did not plan for the expedition, Singapore will not be there.

-->If William did not govern Singapore well enough, it will not flourish.

-->If John did not have the foresight of having it as a port, it will NEVER be a colony.

-->If the Sultan and Temmengong disapprove the British, Singapore cannot develop.

-->If the immigrants did not come, no works can be done.

Therefore, each of them play a part in the big puzzle of Singapore, if each one of them fall apart, Singapore will be in shards and will be still a sleeping fishing village.

Cheers,
Tan Jun Kai of Sec 2C

raffles was the inspiration behind the entire trip to singapore
palaniyapan 2c

I think Raffles is the founder of Singapore.

Why?
= because british needed a trading port that is on the south of melaka to counter Dutch monopoly. He get the dutch to sign an anglo-dutch treaty so that they won't trigger a war. He was the founder of Singapore because he was the person who had the idea to find a piece of land. Then he let farquhar take care of Singapore but in my opinion, the founder is still Raffles.

Hidayat, 2c

I feel that the founder is the people that were here last time after the war. this is because during the war the place was destroyed to a pile of crap. even if there was no raffles, they can still be the same as there will be someone like lee kuan yew that will come along, set policy and make singapore a better place

John 2C

I like to response to Jun Kai's response.
'-->If Raffles did not plan for the expedition, Singapore will not be there.'

You are right Jun Kai.

What I'm trying to say is that we are talking about the founder of Singapore. Christ Columbus was credited for discovering America. He didn't develop a single thing. But without him, the whole world won't know a single thing about America. And maybe Russia will be the strongest country in the world then.

The same things goes to Singapore, if Raffles didn't seek to set up a foundation for Singapore, it might remain as a village. Or it will flourish under the a leader, then it will be an entire different story.

Haolin
2E

this way you might as well credit the founding of singapore to raffles ancestors coz without them, there would not be raffles and hence no singapore. what i m trying to say that people that did the work should be credited not the people that did not do much.

John 2C

anyway, columbus is credited for the discovery of america not the founding of america.

John 2C

Although Im not in school but in France now.. I would still like to join in...

I think that although Raffles signed the treaty, if it wasnt for farquhar, none of Raffles visions or dreams could have been fufilled..

Faquhar solved the problems in Singapore eg. startin a police force..

If it wasnt for him, Singapore would not be able to be like this today, hence I feel that Faquhar is the rightful founder of Singapore..

Posted by Nicholas Chan from 2h in france currently but still in 2h

I think Lee Kuan Yew is the true founder of Singapore. Lee Kuan Yew not only banished communism, he ralied all Singaporean citizens to make us into what we are now: we even achieved "developed country" status in less than 35 years after
leaving Malaysia as an independent nation. Singapore is now strong and powerful, and our flag flies among other flags of great countries, which is a big improvement from that of yesteryear. You can say we went from rags to riches with Lee Kuan Yew's help. In conclusion, I feel Lee Kuan Yew is the real founder of Singapore, and he makes other "founders" like Sir Standford Raffles and William Farquar's contribution to Singapore pale in comparison.

Lee Kai Yi
(16) 2B

There are many different people who "founded" Singapore over different periods of time. Sang Nila Utama was the first person who set foot on the island and named it Singapura. Thus he can be known as the founder of ancient Singapore. Raffles was the person who signed the treaty that made Singapore a British colony. William was the person who nurtured Singapore after Raffles left and Crawfurd was the person who made the entire island a British settlement. Thus all 3 of them are founders of colonial Singapore in many different ways. Lastly, the founder of modern Singapore will be none other then Lee Kwan Yew, who turned Singapore into what it is today.

Thus all of them can be known as the founders of Singapore at different period of time.

2I

I AM DE FOUNDER OF SINGAPORE!!!

TEO CHIA YIN

Yeah i support Kai Yi lee kuan yew is the founder.

• “ .. The credit for Singapore’s growth must go to those who made it grow, to the people who in defiance of all history built a bustling port on the equator.”
• The Malay Rajas, Straits and Nanyang Chinese, Bugis, Indians, Arabs, Armenians and the Jews, the Europeans and all those unnamed pioneering settlers who made Singapore worked.”