Do you know who founded Singapore?

It is none other than Sir Stamford Raffles. In the early 1800s, Raffles felt that Britain needed another port for trading. With Major William Farquhar, he started searching for a suitable place for the port.

Why Raffles Chose Singapore?

Raffles Chose Singapore because:

1. She had lots of fresh drinking water.
   
   
2. She lay on the main trade route between China and India Europe.
   
   
3. She had a natural deep harbour appropriate for Big Ships to anchor.

How Singapore Came Under British Rule

1. On the 28th of Jan 1819, Raffles with his British fleet reached St. John’s Island.
   
   
2. On the 29th of Jan 1819, Raffles and Farquhar reached Singapore. They went to see the Temenggong, the chief of this island. Raffles asked permission from the Temenggong to setup a British settlement here.
   
   
3. The Temenggong was willing to do that but he did not have the power to give Raffles Sultan of Johor (Malaya), Tengku Hussein, permission. Raffles then seek the Sultan for help.
   
   
4. On the 6th of Feb 1819, Raffles set up a tent at the Padang and made Tengku Hussein the new Sultan of Johor. The Sultan and Temenggong signed a treaty with British, which allowed British to setup a settlement on the island, and in return, both Sultan and Temenggong would receive a big sum of money from the British every year.
   
   
5. The short flag-raising ceremony marked the founding of the modern Singapore.

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