Thomas stamford raffles biography of christopher

He had a remarkable career for such a young man. Raffles was born at sea, as his father was a ship's captain, in the West Indies, but spent most of his career in the East Indies. As his father died when he was young, Raffles was faced with adversity, and was self-educated. From a humble clerk in the East India Company in London, he was posted to be Assistant Secretary to the Governor in Penang inand so impressed his superiors by his language and other skills that the Governor-General of Bengal, Lord Minto, appointed him Lieutenant-Governor of Java inafter Java was captured from the Dutch to prevent it from falling into the hands of Napoleonic France.

He was only Out of a mixture of his own disputed judgments and others' jealousy, Raffles became a subject of controversy and a target of attack, from British as well as Dutch adversaries. To some, Raffles was an admired reformer, who wanted to abolish the thomas stamford raffles biography of christopher trade, and ameliorate the lot of the people.

To others, he was simply a young and ambitious schemer. Though Raffles lost the Governorship of Java inwhen it was returned to the Dutch, he was knighted by the Prince Regent inin recognition of his Java services as well as his two-volume History. Through his knowledge of the Malay language and customs he played a large part in planning the capture of Java from the Dutch.

He ruled Java as lieutenant governor —15 and reduced the power of native princes. Raffles also reorganized the administration, launched reforms in taxation, abolished forced labor and feudal dues, and provided security of land tenure. Recalled on the eve of Java's restoration to the Dutch, he returned to England, where his History of Java was published.

Some of you would remember that he was the Lieutenant-Governor of Java and then of Bencoolen in which capacity he established the British settlement in Singapore. Others will recall that he was interested in the Arts and Sciences; that he wrote a two-volume History of Java; that he was the first President of the Zoological Society and thus was a founder of the London Zoo!

According to his Obituary, Raffles intended the Institution "to consist of a college, with library and museum, for the study of Anglo-Chinese literature, and of branch schools in the Chinese and Malayan languages" The schools came first, followed by the library and museum, but his vision of a College of the Arts and Sciences was only realised inwhen the Raffles College was established.

On the personal side, you will recall that he was married first to Olivia, who died in Java, and then to Lady Sophia, who survived him and wrote a long Memoir in her husband's memory. Most natural history specimens collected by Raffles were lost with the sinking of Fame. Two statues in Singapore, one made of white marble along the Singapore Riverwhile another made of bronze in front of the Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall.

Contents move to sidebar hide. Article Talk. Read Edit View history. Tools Tools. Download as PDF Printable version. In other projects. British colonial official — This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.

The Honourable Sir. Olivia Mariamne Devenish. Sophia Hull. Early life [ edit ]. Java Island [ edit ]. British invasion of Java [ edit ]. This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. March Learn how and when to remove this message. Rule [ edit ]. Interlude in England [ edit ].

Bencoolen and Malaya [ edit ]. January Learn how and when to remove this message. Founding of modern Singapore [ edit ]. Main article: Founding of modern Singapore. Establishment [ edit ]. Achin, and the early conflict with the Dutch [ edit ]. First year of Singapore [ edit ]. Bencoolen, once again [ edit ]. Consolidation of the Eastern Isles [ edit ].

Administration of Bencoolen, — [ edit ]. Singapore — [ edit ]. Return to Britain and death [ edit ]. This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section. Memorial sculpture in Westminster Abbey, London [ edit ]. Legacy [ edit ]. Natural history [ edit ].

The standard author abbreviation Raffles is used to indicate this person as the author when citing a botanical name. Fragrant nutmeg Myristica fragrans. Durian Durio zibethinus. Oriental bay owl Phodilus badius. Malay apple Syzygium malaccense. Blue-backed parrot Tanygnathus everetti. Langsat Lansium parasiticum. Otter civet Cynogale bennettii.

Crested fireback Lophura ignita. Places and landmarks [ edit ]. Business [ edit ]. Education [ edit ]. Sports and recreation [ edit ]. Transport [ edit ]. See also [ edit ]. Notes [ edit ]. References [ edit ]. The family of Sir Stamford Raffles. ISBN The History of Java, v. Government of Singapore. Retrieved 30 September Retrieved 16 January National Library, Singapore.

France Retrieved 17 August National Library BoardGovernment of Singapore. Archived from the original on 22 June Retrieved 12 May The history and antiquities of the parish of Hammersmith: Interspersed with biographical notices of illustrious and eminent persons, who have been born, or who have resided in the parish during the three preceding centuries.

OCLC London, England: British Museum. Retrieved 3 May Raffles and the British Invasion of Java. Monsoon Books. Palgrave Macmillan. Raffles of Singapore. Bijdragen tot de Taal- Land- en Volkenkunde.

Thomas stamford raffles biography of christopher

JSTOR Borobudur: Golden Tales of the Buddhas. The History of Java. Black, Parbury and Allen for the Hon. Retrieved 22 February XIV Asia. The protest of Sir S. The Annual Register : — Retrieved 7 April In Singapore, National Library Board ed. National Library Board, Singapore. In Makepeace, Walter ed. One Hundred Years of Singapore: being some account of the capital of the straits from its foundation by Sir Stamford Raffles on the 6th February to the 6th February London: John Murray.

The National Archives. Retrieved 23 January Bloomsbury Publishing. A History of Modern Singapore, — NUS Press. National Archives of Singapore.