Editing Stamford Raffles

{{Short description|British colonial official (1781–1826)}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{More citations needed|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific_prefix = [[The Honourable]] [[Sir]]
| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|FRS|FRAsS|size=100%}}
| image            = George Francis Joseph - Sir Thomas Stamford Bingley Raffles.jpg
| caption          = ''[[Portrait of Stamford Raffles]]'' by [[George Francis&nbsp;Joseph]], {{circa|1817}}
| office           = [[Governors of Bencoolen|Lieutenant-Governor of Bencoolen]]
| term_start       = 22 March 1818
| term_end         = 1824
| monarch          = {{ubl|[[George III]]|[[George IV]]}}
| predecessor      = George John Siddons (as Resident of Bencoolen)
| successor        = John Prince (as Resident)
| office1          = [[Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies|British Lieutenant-Governor of the Dutch&nbsp;East Indies]]
| term_start1      = 18 September 1811
| term_end1        = 12 March 1816
| appointer1       = [[Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 1st Earl of Minto|Earl of Minto]]
| monarch1         = [[George III]]
| predecessor1     = [[Robert Rollo Gillespie|Rollo Gillespie]] (acting)
| successor1       = [[John Fendall]]
| birth_name       = Thomas Stamford Bingley&nbsp;Raffles
| birth_date       = {{birth date|1781|07|05|df=y}}
| birth_place      = Onboard the ship ''Ann'', coast of [[Port Morant]], [[Colony of Jamaica|Jamaica]]
| death_date       = {{death date and age|1826|07|05|1781|07|05|df=y}}
| death_place      = Highwood House, Highwood Hill, [[Middlesex]], England
| death_cause      = [[Apoplexy]] due to [[brain tumour]]
| resting_place    = [[St Mary's Church, Hendon]]
| spouse           = {{plainlist|
* {{marriage|[[Olivia Mariamne Devenish]]|14 March 1805|26 November 1814|end = died}}
* {{marriage|[[Sophia Hull]]|22 February 1817}}}}
| children         = 5 children (with Sophia Hull)
| father           = Benjamin Raffles
| mother           = Anne Raffles
| education        = Mansion House Boarding School
| known_for        = [[Founding years of modern Singapore]]
| module           = {{Infobox writer|embed=yes
| notableworks     = ''[[The History of Java (1817 book)|The History of Java]]''}}
}}

'''Sir Thomas Stamford Bingley Raffles''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|FRS|FRAsS|size=100%}} (5 July 1781 – 5 July 1826){{R|Bastin}}{{R|SophiaRaffles}} was a British [[Colonial Office|colonial official]] who served as the [[List of governors of the Dutch East Indies|governor of the Dutch East Indies]] between 1811 and 1816 and [[lieutenant-governor of Bencoolen]] between 1818 and 1824. Raffles was involved in [[Invasion of Java (1811)|the capture]] of the [[Dutch East Indies|Indonesian]] island of [[Java]] from the [[French and British interregnum in the Dutch East Indies#French interregnum 1806–1811|Dutch]] during the [[Napoleonic Wars]]. It was returned under the [[Anglo–Dutch Treaty of 1824]]. He also wrote ''[[The History of Java (1817 book)|The History of Java]]'' in 1817, describing the history of the island from ancient times.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Raffles|first=Thomas Stamford|date=2015|url=http://www.Gutenberg.org/ebooks/49843|title=The History of Java, v. 1–2}}</ref> The ''[[Rafflesia]]'' flowers were named after him.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rafflesia |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_38_2005-01-22.html |access-date=30 September 2022 |website=Infopedia |publisher=[[Government of Singapore]]}}</ref>

Raffles also played a role in further establishing the [[British Empire]]'s reach in [[East Asia|East]] and [[Southeast Asia]]. He secured control over the strategically located [[Singapore]] from local rulers in 1819 to secure British access along the [[Strait of Singapore]] and the nearby seas in the region, particularly the [[Indian Ocean]] and the [[South China Sea]]. His actions were initially not endorsed by the British government and led to tensions between the British and the [[Dutch Empire|Dutch]]. The [[Anglo–Dutch Treaty of 1824]] established their respective spheres of influence, the Dutch relinquishing their claims to Singapore while the British ceded [[British Bencoolen|Bencoolen]] to them. A [[entrepôt|transshipment port]] was subsequently established in Singapore for [[maritime trade]] between Europe and Asia.

While Raffles was largely credited for the founding of contemporary Singapore, the early running of day-to-day operations was mostly done by [[William Farquhar]], who served as the first [[Resident of Singapore]] from 1819 to 1823.<ref>{{Cite web|title=William Farquhar, not Raffles, is true founder of S'pore: UK magazine book review|url=https://mothership.sg/2018/01/william-farquhar-not-raffles-is-true-founder-of-singapore/|access-date=16 January 2022|website=mothership.sg|language=en}}</ref> Raffles soon returned to England in 1824, where he died on his birthday in 1826 at the age of 45. His legacy while complex remains significant in Singapore, most notably the [[Raffles's Landing Site]], as well as his name being a common sight in numerous entities and institutions throughout the country. Others have argued against excessive reverence as he was an [[imperialist]] who projected [[colonialism]] onto the population of Singapore that [[Early history of Singapore|predated his arrival]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 January 2020 |title=Head Count: The History of Census-taking in Singapore |url=https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/vol-15/issue-4/jan-mar-2020/head-count-history/ |website=National Library, Singapore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Glory and disgrace: The complex legacy of Singapore founder Raffles |url=https://www.france24.com/en/20190226-glory-disgrace-complex-legacy-singapore-founder-raffles |website=France 24 |access-date=17 August 2023 |language=en |date=26 February 2019}}</ref>

==Early life==
Thomas Stamford Bingley Raffles was born on {{Birth date|df=y|1781|7|5}} on board the ship ''Ann'', off the coast of [[Port Morant]], Jamaica,{{r|SophiaRaffles}} to Captain Benjamin Raffles (1739, London – 23 November 1811, [[Deptford]]) and Anne Raffles (née Lyde) (1755 – 8 February 1824, London).{{R|Bastin}} Benjamin served as a [[Sea captain|ship master]] for various ships engaged in the direct trade between England and the [[West Indies]]. Although some biographers have suggested that Benjamin was involved in the [[Atlantic slave trade|slave trade]], modern historians have refuted such claims. When Benjamin ended his involvement in the West India trade in 1800, it caused his family considerable hardship.<ref name=InfopediaRafflesFamily>{{cite web|id=InfopediaRafflesFamily|ref=InfopediaRafflesFamily|last=Cornelius|first=Vernon|author-link=Vernon Cornelius|date=24 August 2016|url=https://eResources.NLB.Gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_931_2004-12-23.html|title=Family of Sir Stamford Raffles {{!}} Infopedia|website=eResources.NLB.Gov.sg|publisher=[[National Library Board]], [[Government of Singapore]]|access-date=12 May 2020|archive-url=https://archive.today/20170622084147/http://eResources.NLB.Gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_931_2004-12-23.html|archive-date=22 June 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

The little money the family had went into sending the young Raffles to the Mansion House Academy, [[Hammersmith]], a moderately priced boarding school, offering Latin, Greek, French, arithmetic, bookkeeping and geography, that specialised in preparing boys for clerkships or the army.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Faulkner |first1=Thomas |title=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 |date=1839 |publisher=Nichols & Son |location=London |page=261 |language=en |oclc=940527190}}</ref> In 1795, at the age of 14, Raffles started working in [[London]] as a clerk for the [[East India Company]]. Nine years later, in 1804, the 23-year-old Raffles married [[Olivia Mariamne Devenish]], a widow 10 years his senior,{{R|Bastin|pages=57, 73, 107}} who was formerly married to Jacob Cassivelaun Fancourt, an assistant surgeon in Madras, who had died in 1800.{{R|Bastin|pages=59, 69}}

In 1805, he was sent to [[Penang Island|Prince of Wales Island]], [[British Malaya|Malaya]], starting his long association with Southeast Asia. He started as assistant secretary, under the Honourable [[Philip Dundas]], the new governor of Penang.<ref name="BritMus"/> At this time, he also made the acquaintance of [[Thomas Otho Travers]], who would accompany him for the next 20 years.<ref name=InfopediaRafflesFamily/>

==Java Island==
===British invasion of Java===
{{Unreferenced section|date=March 2021}}
His knowledge of the [[Malay language]], as well as his wit and ability, gained him favour with [[Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 1st Earl of Minto|Lord Minto]], the [[governor-general of India]], and he was sent to [[Malacca]].

In 1811, after the annexation of the [[Kingdom of Holland]] by France during Napoleon's war, Raffles had no choice but to leave the country. He mounted [[Invasion of Java (1811)|a military expedition]] against the Dutch and French in [[Java]], in the [[Dutch East Indies]]. The war was swiftly conducted by Admiral [[Robert Stopford (Royal Navy officer)|Robert Stopford]], General [[Frederick Augustus Wetherall]], and Colonel [[Robert Rollo Gillespie]],<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hannigan |first=Tim |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ncqJAAAAQBAJ |title=Raffles and the British Invasion of Java |date=1 November 2012 |publisher=Monsoon Books |isbn=978-981-4358-86-6 |language=en}}</ref> who led a well-organised army against an opposing army of mostly French [[conscript]]s with little proper leadership.

The previous Dutch governor, [[Herman Willem Daendels]], had built a well-defended fortification at [[Meester Cornelis]], now [[Jatinegara]]. His successor, Governor [[Jan Willem Janssens]], who coincidentally had surrendered to the British five years earlier at the [[Cape Colony]], mounted a brave but ultimately futile defence at the fortress. The British, led by Colonel Gillespie, stormed the fort and captured it within three hours. Governor Janssens attempted to escape inland but was captured.

The British invasion of Java took a total of 45 days, during which Raffles was appointed the [[lieutenant-governor of the Dutch East Indies]] by Lord Minto before hostilities formally ceased. He took his residence at [[Buitenzorg]], and despite having a small group of Britons as his senior staff, kept many of the Dutch civil servants in the governmental structure.

===Rule===

During the relatively brief period of British rule in Java, Raffles negotiated several peace treaties along with ordering several military expeditions against local rulers. Rumours of plans by the [[Yogyakarta Sultanate]] to launch an attack against the British led to uneasiness among Britons in Java. On 20 June 1812, Raffles led a 1,200-strong British force to capture the [[Kraton Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat|Royal Palace of Yogyakarta]]. Yogyakarta forces, surprised by the attack, were easily defeated; the palace fell in one day, and was [[Sack of Yogyakarta|subsequently sacked and burnt]]. Raffles ordered much of the palace's archives to be removed, taking them back with him. The attack was unprecedented in Javanese history, as it was the first time an indigenous palace had been captured by a European army, humiliating the Yogyakarta Sultanate.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Ricklefs|first=M. C.|author-link=M. C. Ricklefs|year=2008|title=A History of Modern Indonesia Since C. 1200|publisher=[[Palgrave Macmillan]]|edition=4th}}</ref>

Although peace returned to [[Central Java]] in the immediate aftermath of the attack, it may have fuelled the deep-seated instability and hostility to European involvement in the region that ultimately gave rise to the [[Java War]] during the 1820s.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Carey|first=Peter|author-link=Peter Carey (historian)|year=2008|title=The Power of Prophecy: Prince Dipanagara and the End of an Old Order in Java, 1785–1855}}</ref> Raffles also ordered an expedition to [[Palembang]], [[Sumatra]] to depose local sultan [[Mahmud Badaruddin II]]. The expedition was also ordered to occupy the nearby [[Bangka Island]] in order to establish a permanent British presence in the area, in case Java returned to Dutch rule after the end of the [[War of the Sixth Coalition]] in Europe.{{fact|date=November 2024}}

[[File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Gedenksteen van T.S. Raffles de oprichter van 's Lands Plantentuin voor zijn vrouw O.M. Raffles langs de Kanarielaan in 's Lands Plantentuin te Buitenzorg West-Java TMnr 10016615.jpg|thumb|The memorial to [[Olivia Mariamne Raffles]], Raffles's first wife, erected by him along the [[Kanarielaan]] in the National Botanical Gardens (now the [[Bogor Botanical Gardens]]). Raffles re-landscaped these gardens, which were established in 1744 in Buitenzorg (now [[Bogor]]), [[West Java]].]]

During his lieutenant-governorship, Raffles placed some restrictions on the local [[History of slavery|slave trade]] in line with wider British policy across its Asian territories, although slavery remained widespread and Raffles himself was served by a large retinue of slaves at his official residences in Java.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Hahn|first=Emily|author-link=Emily Hahn|year=1946|title=Raffles of Singapore|url=https://Archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.60280}}</ref> Raffles also attempted a replacement of the Dutch system of forced agricultural deliveries-in-kind with a cash-based [[land tenure]] system of land management, probably influenced by the earlier anti-feudal critiques of [[Dirk van Hogendorp (1761–1822)|Dirk van Hogendorp]] He was advised by a holdover from the previous Dutch regime on Java, the president of the High Court of Java, [[Herman Warner Muntinghe]], especially in the matter of the reform of the public finances of the colony, and its system of taxation.<ref name=wright>{{cite journal|author=Wright, H.R.C.|title=Muntinghe's advice to Raffles on the land question in Java|journal=Bijdragen tot de Taal-, Land- en Volkenkunde|volume=108|issue=3|year=1952|pages=220–247|doi=10.1163/22134379-90002430 |jstor=27859777 |doi-access=free}}</ref>

Under Raffles's aegis, a large number of ancient monuments in Java were systematically catalogued for the first time. The first detailed English-language account of [[Prambanan]] was prepared by [[Colin Mackenzie]], while the [[Buddhist temple]] of [[Borobudur]] was surveyed and cleared of vegetation by H. C. Cornelius.<ref>{{Cite book|author1-link=John N. Miksic|last=Miksic|first=John|date=1990|title=Borobudur: Golden Tales of the Buddhas}}</ref>

When his wife, Olivia, died on 26 November 1814, Raffles was devastated. In 1815, he left again for England shortly before the island of Java was returned to control of the Netherlands following the [[Napoleonic Wars]], under the terms of the [[Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1814]]. Raffles had been removed from his post by the [[East India Company]] ahead of the handover, and officially replaced by [[John Fendall Jr.]] on account of the poor financial performance of the colony during his administration, and allegations of financial impropriety on his own part. He sailed to England in early 1816 to clear his name and, ''en route'', visited [[Napoleon]], who was in exile at [[St. Helena]], but found him unpleasant and unimpressive.

==Interlude in England==
In 1817, Raffles wrote and published ''[[The History of Java]]'',<ref>{{Cite book|author=Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles|year=1817|title=[[The History of Java (1817 book)|The History of Java]]|publisher=[[Black, Parbury and Allen]] for the Hon. [[East India Company]], reprinted in the Cambridge Library Collection, 2010}}</ref> describing the history of the island from ancient times as well as its geography, flora, and fauna.

In 1817, Raffles was created a [[Knight Bachelor]] by the Prince Regent [[George IV]], whose daughter, [[Princess Charlotte of Wales (1796–1817)|Princess Charlotte]], was particularly close to him. At the publication of the book, he also stopped using the name 'Thomas', preferring to use his middle name, 'Stamford', possibly to avoid confusion amongst his associates with Sir Thomas Sevestre, or his cousin, [[Thomas Raffles]], who both bore the same first name.

On 22 February, he married his second wife, [[Sophia Hull]],<ref name="BritMus">{{cite web|author=Anon|date=n.d.|url=https://www.BritishMuseum.org/research/search_the_collection_database/term_details.aspx?bioId=137783|title=Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles (biographical details)|website=BritishMuseum.org|location=London, England|publisher=[[British Museum]]|access-date=3 May 2019}}</ref><ref name=BritMusSophiaRaffles>{{cite web|url=https://www.BritishMuseum.org/research/search_the_collection_database/term_details.aspx?bioId=137782|title=Lady Sophia Raffles (biographical details)|website=BritishMuseum.org|location=London, England|publisher=[[British Museum]]|access-date=22 February 2018}}</ref><ref name=InfopediaSophiaHull>{{cite web|url=http://eResources.NLB.Gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_785_2005-01-24.html|title=Sophia Hull {{!}} Infopedia|website=eResources.NLB.Gov.sg|location=Singapore|publisher=[[National Library Board]], [[Government of Singapore]]|access-date=22 February 2018}}</ref> and later set sail to [[British Bencoolen|Bencoolen]] (present-day [[Bengkulu (city)|Bengkulu]] in Indonesia) to take up his new post with his new wife.

==Bencoolen and Malaya==
{{Unreferenced section|date=January 2023}}
[[File:Southern Sumatra, De Grote Winkler Prins Encyclopedia 1910.jpg|thumb|Territory of Bencoolen (pink)]]
[[File:StamfordRaffles.jpeg|thumb|upright|right|Stamford Raffles]]
Raffles arrived in Bencoolen on Sumatra on 19 March 1818, where he was appointed as the [[lieutenant-governor of Bencoolen]] on 22 March 1818. Despite the prestige connected with the title of Lieutenant-Governor, [[British Bencoolen|Bencoolen]] was a colonial backwater, whose only real export was [[Black pepper|pepper]], and only the murder of a previous [[Resident (title)|Resident]], [[Thomas Parr (of Bencoolen)|Thomas Parr]], gained it any attention back home in Britain. Raffles found the place wrecked, and set about reforms immediately, mostly similar to what he had done on [[Java]]; abolishing slavery and limiting [[cockfighting]] and such games. To replace the slaves, he used a contingent of [[convict]]s, already sent to him from India.

It was at this point that he realised the importance of a British presence that both challenged the Dutch [[hegemony]] in the area, and could remain consistently profitable, unlike Bencoolen or [[Batavia, Dutch East Indies|Batavia]]. However, the strategic importance of poorly maintained but well-positioned [[British possessions]], such as [[Penang]] or Bencoolen, made it impossible for the British to abandon the unprofitable colonies in such proximity to the Dutch in Java.

The competition in the area, between Raffles and the aggressive Dutch [[Commissioners-General of the Dutch East Indies|commissioner-general]], [[Cornelis Theodorus Elout]], and later Raffles' former advisor on Java, [[Herman Warner Muntinghe|Muntinghe]], now a member of the new High Government of the Dutch East Indies, who Elout had put in power,{{efn|This led to an incident in [[Palembang Sultanate|Palembang]] where Muntinghe had an emissary of Raffles, one captain Salmond, deported to [[Batavia, Dutch East Indies|Batavia]].<ref name=register>{{cite journal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=47FNAAAAcAAJ|journal=The Annual Register|year=1820|title=Ch. XIV Asia. The protest of Sir S. Raffles against the Proceedings of the Dutch in the Malayan Archipelago Treaties formed with the Princes of Sumatra|pages=216–232|access-date=7 April 2023}}</ref>}} certainly led at least in part to the later [[Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1824]]. Raffles looked into alternatives in the area; namely [[Bangka Island|Bangka]], which had been ceded to the Dutch after its conquest by the British during its occupation of Java. [[Bintan]] was also under consideration. Despite the fact that [[Francis Light]] overlooked the island before settling upon Penang in 1786, the [[Riau Archipelago]] was an attractive choice just to the south of the [[Malay Peninsula]], for its proximity to [[Malacca]].

In his correspondences with [[Calcutta]], Raffles also emphasised the need to establish a certain amount of influence with the native chiefs, which had greatly waned since the return of the Dutch. Raffles sent [[Thomas Otho Travers|Thomas Travers]] as an ambassador to the Dutch, to possibly negotiate an expansion of British economic interests. When this failed, and when Raffles's own expeditions into his new dominion found only treacherous terrain and few exportable goods, his desire to establish a better British presence was cemented.

However, the Anglo-Dutch Convention of 1814 was not completely clear, especially on the issue of certain possessions such as [[Padang]]. The Convention of 1814 only returned Dutch territory that was held before 1803, which did not include Padang. Raffles asserted the British claim personally, leading a small expedition to the [[Pagaruyung Kingdom|Kingdom of Pagaruyung]]. Yet, as Raffles confirmed with the sultan regarding the absolute British influence of the area, he realised that the local rulers had only limited power over the well-cultivated and civilised country, and the treaty was largely symbolic, and had little actual force.

==Founding of modern Singapore==
{{Main|Founding of modern Singapore}}
[[File:Stamford Raffles statue Crop.JPG|thumb|upright=0.6|right|Statue of Sir Stamford Raffles in Singapore, based on the original by [[Thomas Woolner]]]]
Major-General [[William Farquhar]], the [[Resident (title)|British Resident]] of Malacca, had been attempting to negotiate [[Commercial treaty|commercial treaties]] with the local chiefs of the [[Riau Archipelago]], especially before Raffles' arrival. Farquhar was compelled to sign the treaty not with the official head of the sultanate, but rather, the [[Riau-Lingga Sultanate|Raja Muda (Regent or Crown Prince) of Riau]]. He noted it as a success, and reported it as such to Raffles.

Raffles sailed to [[Malacca]] in late 1818, to personally secure a British presence in the Riau area, especially ''Singapura'', which was favoured by him both through the readings of [[Malay language|Malayan]] histories, and by Farquhar's explorations. Despite [[Francis Rawdon-Hastings, 1st Marquess of Hastings|Lord Hastings]]' less-than-stellar opinion of Raffles before (which had necessitated his trip to England to clear his name at the end of his tenure as Lieutenant-Governor of Java), the now well-connected and successful Raffles was able to secure permission to set up a settlement. At this point in [[History of Singapore|Singaporean history]], the name ''Lion City'' was applied. The city was in a strategically advantageous position; however, he was ordered not to provoke the Dutch, and his subsequent actions were officially disavowed by the British government.

In London, [[Viscount Castlereagh|Lord Castlereagh]] attempted to quell Dutch fears, and continuing efforts were made to reach an agreement between the nations that eventually became the [[Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1824|Anglo-Dutch Treaty]] of London of 1824. As well as the treaty, instructions were sent out to Raffles to undertake far less intrusive actions; however, the long distance between the Far East and Europe meant that the orders had no chance of reaching Raffles in time.

===Establishment===
After a brief survey of the [[Karimun Islands]], on 29 January 1819, he established a post at the southern tip of the [[Malay Peninsula]]. It was established that there was no Dutch presence on the island of Singapore. [[Johor]] also no longer had any control of the area, so contact was made with the [[Temenggong Abdul Rahman]]. The contacts were friendly, and Raffles, knowledgeable about the muddled political situation, took advantage to provide a rudimentary treaty between the nominal chiefs of the area that called for the exclusivity of trade, and the British protection of the area. Members of Raffles's party [[surveying|surveyed]] the island, and proceeded to request the presence of the sultan, or whoever at the time had supreme nominal power, to sign a formal treaty, while Major Farquhar was ordered to do the same in Rhio (Riau). 

The writings of Raffles and Farquhar indicate that the British found Temenggong Abdul Rahman with 400 to 500 residents in Singapore in January 1819. Another member of the 1819 expedition party, Captain John Crawford, recalled in his diary an encounter with “upwards of 100” of Chinese. British colonial documentations revealed that Temenggong Abdul Rahman had provided these Chinese who were Teochews the cost and expenses of opening gambier plantations at Mount Stamford (now Pearl’s Hill) prior to British arrival. He had also “in some instances” advanced money to the Teochew cultivators on the understanding he would be repaid in the form of gambier or other produce. Farquhar had the impressions that the Temenggong’s interests in these plantations were represented by a brother-in-law of his named Baba Ketchil and the first Captain China of Singapore, a Teochew merchant named Tan Heng Kim ((陈亨钦), was “one of the principal persons concerned”. <ref>{{cite book |last=Heng|first=Jason|date=2018 |editor-last=Singapore |editor-first=National Library Board |title=Chapters on Asia: selected papers from the Lee Kong Chian Research Fellowship (2014–2016) |publisher=National Library Board, Singapore. |pages=191–231 |chapter=Chapter 7: An Old Teochew Oral Account Sheds New Light on the 1819 Founding of Singapore |isbn=9789811163456}}</ref>  

A few days later, the formal treaty was signed by [[Hussein Shah of Johor|Hussein Shah]] who claimed to be the "lawful sovereign of the whole of territories extending from [[Lingga Islands|Lingga]] and [[Johor]] to Mount Muar". Although Hussein Shah had had no previous contact with the British, he had certainly heard of the strength of the [[Royal Navy]], and was in no position to argue against the terms. Raffles reassured him that the Dutch posed no threat in the area. Hussein Shah had been the crown Prince of Johor, but while he was away in [[Pahang]] to get married, his father died, and his younger brother was made sultan, supported by some of the court officials and the Dutch. To circumvent the situation of having to negotiate with a sultan influenced by the Dutch, Raffles decided to recognise, on behalf of the British Crown, Hussein Shah as being the rightful ruler of Johor.

Farquhar's attempt to establish a more favourable treaty in Rhio (Riau) was met with greater challenge, as the Dutch were present, and made for a rather awkward position. The Dutch were alarmed, and sent a small contingent to the island. Despite a covert offer of [[wikt:subterfuge|subterfuge]] against the Dutch offered by the Raja of Rhio (Riau), Farquhar returned, and an official protest was sent by the Raja to Java regarding the matter.

Raffles declared the foundation of what was to become modern Singapore on 6 February, securing the transfer of control of the island to the [[East India Company]]. With much pomp and ceremony, the official treaty was read aloud in languages representing all nations present, as well as the Malay and Chinese inhabitants.

Sultan Hussein Shah was paid 5,000 [[Spanish dollar]]s a year, while Temenggong Abdul Rahman received 3,000 a year, both massive sums at the time, roughly equivalent to [[British pound|£]]287,000 and £172,000 now.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Blagden|first=C.O.|year=1921|editor-last=Makepeace|editor-first=Walter|title=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 1819 to the 6th February 1919|url=https://Archive.org/details/onehundredyearso01braduoft|publisher=[[John Murray (publishing house)|John Murray]]|location=London|pages=[https://Archive.org/details/onehundredyearso01braduoft/page/n37 10]|chapter=Historical: Singapore prior to 1819}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.NationalArchives.Gov.uk/currency-converter/|title=Currency converter: 1270–2017|website=NationalArchives.Gov.uk|publisher=[[The National Archives (United Kingdom)|The National Archives]]|access-date=23 January 2019}}</ref><!--I mean we need an actual conversion rate-->

Farquhar was officially named the [[Resident of Singapore]], and Raffles was named as 'Agent to the Most Noble the Governor-General with the States of Rhio (Riau), Lingin (Lingga) and Johor'. Although ownership of the post was to be exclusively British, explicit orders were given to Farquhar to maintain free passage of ships through the [[Strait of Singapore]], and a small military presence was established alongside the trading post. After issuing orders to Farquhar and the remaining Europeans, Raffles left the next day, 7 February 1819.

===Achin, and the early conflict with the Dutch===
Raffles also planned to start a British presence in [[Acheh|Achin]], on the northern tip of [[Sumatra]]. As soon as he had departed, the Raja of Rhio (Riau) sent letters to the Dutch, disclaiming the deal, protesting innocence, and blaming British encroachment. Meanwhile, in [[Malacca]], the Dutch acted at once, commanding that no Malays could go to Singapore. Raffles's bold claim of Singapore created a curious geographic situation: although [[Penang]] was clearly closer in distance to Singapore, Raffles, in his capacity as Lieutenant-Governor of Bencoolen, was nominally still in control. This undoubtedly irked the authorities in Penang, to the point where they refused to send any [[sepoy]]s to Singapore to complete the garrison.

Official Dutch complaints came before the end of the month, and Raffles attempted to appease the situation by instructing Farquhar to not interfere with the politics of surrounding islands. Despite numerous threats and serious considerations by the Dutch governor-general [[Godert van der Capellen|Van der Capellen]] in Java, they did not take any military action. The confused political situation in Johore and Rhio also created a certain uneasiness and instability for the two nations. [[Tengku Long]] was claimed to be a [[pretender]] to the throne, and, since the [[Order of succession|succession]] laws in the Malay sultanates were not clear cut, treaties signed between native rulers and the European powers always seemed to be on the verge of invalidation; especially if a sultan should be deposed by one of his siblings or other pretenders.

Nonetheless, amidst uncertainty and intrigue, Raffles landed in Achin on 14 March 1819, with begrudging help of Penang. Once again, it seems that multiple people were in power, but none wanted to formally deal with the British. The hostile atmosphere created allowed Raffles to cancel the only meeting he was able to arrange, with [[Panglima Polim]], a powerful divisional chief, fearing [[wikt:treachery|treachery]]. As the influential merchant [[John Palmer (merchant)|John Palmer]], Raffles, and fellow commissioner [[John Monckton Coombs]] of Penang sat offshore, awaiting a response, [[Calcutta]] debated whether to reinforce the port city. Evacuation plans were made, but the Dutch never acted, and ultimately Lord Hastings prompted Colonel Bannerman, the [[governor of Penang]], to send funds to bolster Singapore. Finally Raffles was capable of convincing his fellow commissioners to sign a treaty with [[Jauhar al-Alam Shah]], the ruler of Achin, which installed a [[Resident minister|British Resident]], as well as guaranteeing the exclusivity of bilateral trade.

By the time Raffles had returned to Singapore, on 31 May, much of the immediate crisis that the colony had caused in Penang and Calcutta had passed. By then, the initial five-hundred villagers had grown to become five-thousand merchants, soldiers, and administrators, packed onto the island. Raffles was determined to destroy the Dutch mercantile monopoly in the area, to replace it with a gateway for trade with China and Japan. The latter he had attempted but failed to reach an agreement with while governing Java.

===First year of Singapore===
While in Singapore, Raffles established schools and churches in the local languages. He allowed [[missionaries]] and local businesses to flourish. Certain colonial aspects remained: a European town was quickly built to [[Ethnic segregation|segregate]] the population, separated by a river; carriage roads were built, and [[cantonment]]s constructed for the soldiers. Otherwise, no other duties were imposed.

Confident that Farquhar would follow his instructions well, Raffles sailed for Bencoolen once again on 28 June.

==Bencoolen, once again==
{{Unreferenced section|date=January 2023}}
Raffles was still the [[lieutenant-governor of Bencoolen]] when he returned. Raffles started more reforms that were, by now, almost trademarks of his rule over the colonies. Forced labour was abolished when he first arrived, and he declared Bencoolen a [[free port]] as well. The currency was regulated and, as he had an excess of out-of-work civil servants, they formed committees to advise him on the daily running of the colony. However, Bencoolen was not as self-sufficient as Singapore. The area was poor and disease-ridden: the first reports from the committees reflected very poorly upon the condition of the colony. Unlike the [[salutary neglect]] Raffles granted upon Singapore, he delayed European-inspired reforms, emphasising only the cultivation of whatever land was available.

Native authorities were given power in their respective districts, and were answerable only to the lieutenant-governor. The [[debt slavery|slave-debtor system]] was brought in,<ref name=debt>{{cite book |last1=Shawna Herzog |title=Negotiating Abolition: The Antislavery Project in the British Strait Settlements, 1786-1843 |date=2021 |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing |isbn=9781350073203 |page=87}}</ref> instead of the old slavery system that Raffles had abolished in Java, [[Borneo]], and initially in Bencoolen. Slave-debtors were registered, and educational reforms started to focus on children, instead of the entire population. Raffles looked into a long-term plan for the slow reform of Bencoolen.

Unlike many other European adventurers, Raffles did not impose upon the colonised the alien language or culture of the coloniser. In addition to preserving the [[Cultural heritage|artifacts]], [[fauna]], and [[flora]] of his colonies, he also allowed [[religious freedom]], which was especially important as the [[Malay states]] were largely [[Muslim]]. Christian schools were started by [[missionaries]] in all of his colonies.

===Consolidation of the Eastern Isles===
Colonel Bannerman's death in Penang in October 1819 brought new opportunities for Raffles to expand his power to also include the other minor British factories and outposts; from [[Sumatra]] to [[Cochinchina|Cochin China]]. He sailed to [[Calcutta]], and as Lord Hastings sought to consolidate all of the small British possessions in the [[Indies|East Indies]]. During his sojourn, he had the opportunity to argue for free trade, and the protection of the private enterprise. Education and the retention of small British outposts were also discussed.

The Dutch claim on the Sultanate of Johore and hence, Rhio, and the diplomatic exchanges between Baron [[Godert van der Capellen]] and Calcutta continued throughout this time. The legitimacy of the British treaties was also questioned once again, but finally, as Singapore grew at an exponential rate, the Dutch gave up their claim on the island, allowing the colony to continue as a British possession. However, the pressures put upon Calcutta ensured that no single governor of all British possessions in the Strait or on Sumatra was appointed, and Raffles, whose health was slowly ailing, returned to Bencoolen.

==Administration of Bencoolen, 1820–1822==
Raffles returned to Bencoolen in ill-health, but as his health improved, he continued on his quest to learn about the island he now called home. He studied the [[Batak]] [[Human cannibalism|cannibals]] of [[Central Tapanuli Regency|Tapanuli]], and their rituals and laws regarding the consumption of human flesh, writing in detail about the transgressions that warranted such an act, as well as their methods. He also noted the rise of the [[Sikh religion]] in certain parts of Sumatra.

By early 1820, Tengku Long had firmly established himself as the [[Sultan of Johor]] to the British, but the political situation in the area remained a befuddled mess, with the old sultan dying, and many new ones attempting to gain either the crown or regency. As Farquhar was involving himself poorly in local politics, Raffles appointed Travers as the [[Resident of Singapore]], replacing Farquhar. Upon his arrival, Travers found the colony a delightful [[smörgåsbord]] of different races and cultures, numbering over six thousand. He also found that Singapore's trade was slowly overtaking that of Java.

As in Java, Raffles collected samples of local species of plant and animal, as well as describing them in his journals. He located other tribes, and recorded their customs, especially their religions and laws. Bringing the island of [[Nias]] under British rule, he noted its civilised state and high production yields of rice.

Yet the production of food remained a problem. In Bencoolen, Raffles paid special attention to the agricultural methods of the Chinese, including an introduction to the only issue of ''Proceedings of the Agricultural Society''. To remedy the shortages, his employer, the [[East India Company]], concerned themselves only with profit-taking. Even as Raffles lived like a country gentleman, and ran his colony like an estate, his expenditure on nature preservation was seriously frowned upon. In both Calcutta and London, they discussed his removal from office, while [[Robert Stewart, Viscount Castlereagh|Castlereagh]] continued negotiations with the Dutch regarding the ongoing diplomatic conflicts.

Luckily, the Singapore issue had its supporters in the House, so as negotiations continued in Europe, Raffles remained largely idle in Bencoolen. The only major issue, outside the politics of the local sultans, involved the replacement of Farquhar, who decided that he had no intention of leaving his post voluntarily, causing a moment of tension between him and Travers. Raffles's request for Travers to deliver dispatches to India nullified the issue late in the year, and Farquhar remained in charge of Singapore, with its survival still in doubt for many in both India and London, who believed that it would either be handed over to the Dutch, or taken violently by force when Castlereagh's negotiations had ended. Still William Farquhar stirred up more trouble, especially with local English merchants over trivial matters of self-importance, and overreaction over small infractions of white traders, for some of which he was reprimanded by Calcutta officially. [[Public works]], commissioned by Raffles but undertaken by Farquhar, were becoming overwhelmingly expensive.

Personal tragedies also started for Raffles. His eldest son, Leopold Stamford (b. 1818), died during an epidemic on 4 July 1821. The oldest daughter, Charlotte (b. 1818), was also sick with [[dysentery]] by the end of the year, but it would be his youngest son, Stamford Marsden (b. 1820), who would perish first with the disease, on 3 January 1822, with Charlotte to follow 10 days later. For the good part of four months, the couple remained devastated. The year would be eventful with the suicide of Castlereagh, and the appointment of [[William Amherst, 1st Earl Amherst|Lord Amherst]] as the [[governor-general of India]], replacing Hastings. As Raffles grew restless and depressed, he decided to visit Singapore before retiring and heading home to England. Accompanying him would be his wife Sophia and their only surviving child, Ella.

Raffles was elected a member of the [[American Antiquarian Society]] (AAS) in 1822.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.AmericanAntiquarian.org/memberlistr|title=American Antiquarian Society Members Directory|website=AmericanAntiquarian.org|publisher=[[American Antiquarian Society]] (AAS)}}</ref>

==Singapore (1822–1823)==
[[File:Plan of the Town of Singapore (1822) by Lieutenant Philip Jackson original.jpg|thumb|300px|The ''Plan of the Town of Singapore'', also known more commonly as the [[Jackson Plan]] or Raffles Town Plan]]
Raffles returned to Singapore in October 1822. Raffles was pleased with the fact that Singapore had grown exponentially in such a short period of time. The colony was a bustling hub of trade and economic activity. Even so, Farquhar's administration was deemed unsatisfactory, for example, he allowed merchants to encroach on government areas, permitted vices such as gambling, and tolerated [[History of slavery|slave trade]].<ref name="Turnbull2009">{{Cite book|last=Turnbull|first=C.M.|author-link=Mary Turnbull|date=2009|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y9yvBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA38|title=A History of Modern Singapore, 1819–2005 |publisher=[[NUS Press]]|isbn=978-9971694302}}</ref>{{rp|38}}<ref>{{cite web|last=Khoo|first=Kevin|url=http://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/article/william-farquhars-pragmatism|title=William Farquhar's pragmatism: another perspective on Raffles vision for Singapore|website=NAS.Gov.sg|publisher=[[National Archives of Singapore]]|access-date=5 May 2021|archive-date=23 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191023200246/http://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/article/william-farquhars-pragmatism|url-status=dead}}</ref> In response, Raffles instituted new policies, and set up a committee headed by the colony's engineer, [[Philip Jackson (surveyor)|Philip Jackson]] to draw up a plan, now known as the [[Jackson Plan]] or Raffles Town Plan, based on instructions by Raffles. The plan was still [[Racial segregation|racially segregated]], giving the best land to the Europeans. Yet it was considered remarkably scientific for the time. Raffles also supervised the levelling of a small hill south of [[Singapore River]] to create Commercial Square (now [[Raffles Place]]).<ref>{{Cite book |author=Charles Burton Buckley |date=1902 |url=https://Archive.org/stream/ananecdotalhist00buckgoog#page/n120/mode/2up |title=An anecdotal history of old times in Singapore |via=Archive.org |pages=88–89|publisher=Singapore, Printed by Fraser & Neave, limited }}</ref>

It was also during the re-planning and reconstruction of the port town that Farquhar dramatically argued with Raffles, who now considered him unfit for the position of [[Resident (title)|Resident]]. Raffles dismissed Farquhar in April 1823, and took direct control. He had written to Calcutta declaring Farquhar to be incompetent in January 1823, and repeated efforts were made to persuade Calcutta to send a replacement for Farquhar; but they remained unanswered. Raffles made [[Johor]] a [[British protectorate]], raising a protest from Van der Capellen. Eventually, Calcutta appointed [[John Crawfurd]], who had followed Raffles for over twenty years, as the new [[Resident of Singapore]], while Captain [[William Gordon MacKenzie]] took over [[Bengkulu|Bencoolen]]. In March 1823, coincidentally the same day he was replaced, he received an official reprimand from London for the takeover of Nias.

Raffles convened a meeting on 1 April 1823, with the intention of opening a Malay college in Singapore, based on his observations on his years in southeast Asia, and his belief of the importance of both the local and the [[European languages]]. Raffles personally gave $2,000{{Clarify|date=March 2021}} towards the effort, the [[East India Company]] gave $4,000, with the contributions from various subscribers totalling $17,495. This would be the founding of [[Raffles Institution]].<ref>{{Cite book |author=Charles Burton Buckley |date=1902 |url=https://Archive.org/stream/ananecdotalhist00buckgoog#page/n154/mode/2up |title=An anecdotal history of old times in Singapore |location=Singapore |publisher=Fraser & Neave |volume=1 |page=122}}</ref>

In the final few weeks of his stay in Singapore, in 1823, Raffles drafted a series of administrative regulations for Singapore that aimed to govern Singapore in a fair manner, but also reflected his stance on various moral and social issues. A registration system was first instituted for all land, regardless of ownership, and the repossession of the land by the government if land remained unregistered. This act asserted the power of the [[British government]] as it covered land previously owned by the Sultan as well. This is followed by laws regarding the port and freedom of trade. In May 1823, he outlawed gambling, imposed heavy taxation on what he considered [[social evil]]s such as [[drunkenness]] and [[opium-smoking]], and banned slavery.<ref name="Turnbull2009"/>{{rp|40}} A police force and magistracy were also set up on British principles, turning a trading post into a proper city with some semblance of order. A specific regulation in the constitution called for the multi-ethnic population to remain as they were; and no crimes were entirely based on racial principles. Raffles worked on drafting laws, defining exactly 'what' constituted a [[criminal act]]. However, Raffles tolerated the practice of regulated debt-slavery, which gave the appearance of free labour while remaining a cheap option for labour.<ref name=debt/>
[[File:Singapore from the Sea June 1823 - Lt. Phillip Jackson.jpg|thumb|A view of Singapore from the sea, sketched by Lt. [[Philip Jackson (surveyor)|Philip Jackson]] shortly before Raffles's departure in 1823. Found amongst documents belonging to Raffles<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Pearson|first=H. F.|date=July 1953|title=Singapore from the Sea, June 1823. Notes on a recently discovered sketch attributed to Lt. Phillip Jackson|journal=[[Journal of the Malayan Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society]]|volume=26|number=1 (161)|pages=43–55|jstor=41502903}}</ref>]]

Finally, on 9 June 1823, feeling that his work in establishing Singapore was finished, he boarded a ship for home, but not before a stop in [[Batavia, Dutch East Indies|Batavia]] to visit his old home, and adversary, van der Capellen. A final stop in Bencoolen followed. Tragedy befell Raffles once more when his youngest daughter, Flora Nightingall, born on 19 September, died a little over one month later on 28 November while still in Bencoolen.

On 2 February 1824, Raffles and his family embarked on the [[East Indiaman]] {{ship||Fame|1818 ship|2}} for England. She caught fire {{Convert|50|mi|abbr=off}} from Bencoolen the evening after she sailed. All aboard were able to take to her boats and were saved, although the ship herself was totally destroyed.<ref>{{Cite news|title=From Lloyd's Marine List – July 20.|newspaper=[[Caledonian Mercury]]|date=24 July 1824|issue=16060}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |url=https://Babel.HathiTrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015006563186;view=1up;seq=203|title=The Marine List|location=London, England|magazine=[[Lloyd's List]]|issue=5929|date=30 July 1824}}</ref> The fire claimed most of his drawings and papers.<ref name=":0" />

The [[Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1824]] finally settled the score in the [[East Indies]]. The British gained dominance in the north, while the entirety of [[Sumatra]] became Dutch. The [[Malay Peninsula]] and the [[Indian subcontinent]] were both free of Dutch interference. Raffles finally returned to England on 22 August 1824, over a year after he left Singapore. His longest tenure in Singapore was only eight months, but he was considered the founder of Singapore nevertheless.

==Return to Britain and death==
{{More citations needed|section|date=January 2023}}
[[File:RafflesArms1.jpg|thumb|upright|Arms of Stamford Raffles]]
Upon arrival in England in poor health, Sir Stamford and Lady Raffles convalesced in [[Cheltenham]] until September 1824, after which he entertained distinguished guests in both London and his home. He also made plans to stand for [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|parliament]], but this ambition was never realised. They moved to a London address at [[Berners Street]] at the end of November 1824, just in time to have a war of words with Farquhar, who had also arrived in the city, in front of the Court of Directors of the East India Company regarding Singapore. Despite raising several severe charges against Raffles, Farquhar was ultimately unable to discredit him; he was denied a chance to be restored to Singapore, but was given a military promotion instead.{{Clarify|date=March 2021}}

With the Singapore matter settled, Raffles turned to his other great interests: [[botany]] and [[zoology]]. He was elected a member of the [[Linnean Society of London]] on 5 February 1825.<ref>{{Cite journal|date=October 1996|title=Picture Quiz|journal=The Linnean|volume=12|issue=3|pages=14–18}}</ref> Raffles was a founder (in 1825) and first president (elected April 1826) of the [[Zoological Society of London]] (ZSL) and the [[London Zoo]].

Meanwhile, he was not only not granted a pension, but was called to pay over £22,000 [[pounds sterling|sterling]] for losses incurred during his administration. Raffles replied by clarifying his actions: and he decided to move to his country estate, Highwood, North London, but before the issue was resolved, he was already much too ill.

He died of [[apoplexy]] at Highwood House in [[Mill Hill]], north London, on his 45th birthday, 5 July 1826. The most likely underlying cause of death is that of a dural arteriovenous fistula.<ref>{{Cite web |title=What Killed Sir Stamford Raffles? |url=https://www.sma.org.sg/news/2019/August/what-killed-sir-stamford-raffles |access-date=2024-05-18 |website=www.sma.org.sg}}</ref> His estate amounted to around £10,000 sterling, which was paid to the company to cover his outstanding debt. Because of his [[Abolitionism in the United Kingdom|anti-slavery]] position, he was refused burial inside the local parish church ([[St Mary's Church, Hendon]]) by the [[vicar]], Theodor Williams, whose family had made its money in [[Jamaica]] in the slave trade.{{Citation Needed|date=January 2024}} A brass tablet was finally placed in 1887, but the actual whereabouts of his body was not known until 1914, when it was found in a vault. When the church was extended in the 1920s, his tomb was incorporated into the body of the building, and a square floor tablet with inscription marked the spot.

Raffles was survived by his second wife Sophia Hull and daughter Ella, and predeceased by his other four children in [[Bencoolen (city)|Bencoolen]].<ref name=InfopediaSophiaHull/>

Ella died in 1840, aged nineteen. Sophia remained at Highwood House until her death in 1858, at the age of 72. Her tomb and memorial may be seen in St Paul's Church graveyard, Mill Hill, close to the rear door of the church. All his other children remained buried overseas. Thirty-three years after his death, Raffles' substantial collection of Indonesian antiquities and ethnography was donated to the [[British Museum]] by his nephew, Rev William Charles Raffles Flint.<ref name="BritMus"/>

==Memorial sculpture in Westminster Abbey, London==
[[File:Stamford Raffles, Westminster Abbey 02.jpg|thumb|Raffles statue in Westminster Abbey]]
A life-size figure in [[white marble]] by Sir [[Francis Chantrey]] depicts Raffles in a seated position in [[Westminster Abbey]], London, England. The sculpture was completed in 1832, and it is in the north choir aisle.<ref>{{Cite book|author=Roger Nicholson |author2=Robert Nicholson|year=1966|title='The Abbey Scientists' Hall|publisher=A.R.|page=49|location=London}}</ref>

The inscription reads:<blockquote>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.</blockquote>

==Legacy==
In Singapore, and in other parts of the world, his name lives on in numerous entities, including:

===Natural history===
{{See also|:Category:Taxa named by Thomas Stamford Raffles}}
{{Botanist|Raffles|border=0}}
* Raffles gave the scientific name to ''Macaca fascicularis'', also known as the [[crab-eating macaque]].<ref name="raff">{{Cite journal|last=Raffles|first=Sir TS|year=1821|title=Descriptive Catalogue of a Zoological Collection, made on account of the Honourable East India Company, in the Island of Sumatra and its Vicinity....|url=https://Archive.org/details/biostor-6048|journal=[[Transactions of the Linnean Society]]}}</ref>
* He also gave the scientific name of the [[lesser mouse-deer]] (''Tragulus kanchil'').<ref name="raff"/>
[[File:Rafflesia arnoldii Bunga Nasional Indonesia 01.jpg|thumb|[[Rafflesia arnoldii]] from [[Indonesia]].]]
A number of [[species]] are named after him:
* ''[[Latticed butterflyfish|Chaetodon rafflesii]]'', latticed [[butterflyfish]]
* ''[[Dinopium rafflesii]]'', olive-backed [[woodpecker]]
* ''[[Red-crowned barbet|Megalaima rafflesi]]'', red-crowned [[Megalaimidae|barbet]]
* ''[[Nepenthes rafflesiana]]'', a species of [[pitcher plant]]
* ''[[Protanilla rafflesi]]'' Taylor, 1990, a species of [[ant]]
* ''[[Rafflesia]]'', a [[genus]] of parasitic flowering plants, known for having the largest flowers in the world
* ''[[Theridion rafflesi]]'' Simon, 1899, spider from [[Sumatra]]

While in Sumatra Raffles commissioned artists to make drawings of his collections of animals and plants. The surviving drawings are held by the British Library.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Noltie |first=Henry J. |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/316836618 |title=Raffles' ark redrawn : natural history drawings from the collection of Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles |date=2009 |publisher=British Library |others=British Library, Edinburgh Royal Botanic Garden |isbn=978-0-7123-5084-6 |location=London |oclc=316836618}}</ref><gallery>
File:Nutmeg Tree - 40 drawings of plants at Bencoolen, Sumatra (c.1824) - BL NHD 48-23.jpg|[[Myristica fragrans|Fragrant nutmeg]] (''Myristica fragrans'')
File:Durio Zibethinus (Bombacaceae) - 40 drawings of plants at Bencoolen, Sumatra (c.1824) - BL NHD 48-20.jpg|[[Durio zibethinus|Durian]] (''Durio zibethinus'')
File:Bay Owl - 51 drawings of birds and mammals at Bencoolen, Sumatra (c.1824) - BL NHD 47-34.jpg|[[Oriental bay owl]] (''Phodilus badius'')
File:Malay Apple - 40 drawings of plants at Bencoolen, Sumatra (c.1824) - BL NHD 48-26.jpg|[[Malay apple]] (''Syzygium malaccense'')
File:Blue-Backed Parrot - 51 drawings of birds and mammals at Bencoolen, Sumatra (c.1824) - BL NHD 47-33.jpg|[[Blue-backed parrot]] (''Tanygnathus everetti'')
File:Lansium Domesticum - 40 drawings of plants at Bencoolen, Sumatra (c.1824) - BL NHD 48-19.jpg|[[Langsat]] (''Lansium parasiticum'')
File:Otter Civet - 51 drawings of birds and mammals at Bencoolen, Sumatra (c.1824) - BL NHD 47-45.jpg|[[Otter civet]] (''Cynogale bennettii'')
File:Crested Fireback Pheasant - 51 drawings of birds and mammals at Bencoolen, Sumatra (c.1824) - BL NHD 47-44.jpg|[[Bornean crested fireback|Crested fireback]] (''Lophura ignita'')
</gallery>Most natural history specimens collected by Raffles were lost with the sinking of ''Fame.''<ref name=":0" /> A few sent earlier, and some collected later, survive at the [[Natural History Museum, London]] and [[World Museum]].<gallery mode="packed-hover">
File:Ferruginous Partridge NML-VZ D512g held in World Museum, Liverpool.jpg|[[Ferruginous Partridge]] NML-VZ D512g collected in Sumatra by Stamford Raffles, held at [[World Museum]].
File:Lesser whistling-duck NML-VZ D843b held in World Museum, Liverpool.jpg|[[Lesser Whistling Duck]] NML-VZ D843b collected in Sumatra by Stamford Raffles held in [[World Museum]].
</gallery>

===Places and landmarks===
* [[Raffles City Singapore|Raffles City]]
* [[Raffles Hospital]]
* [[Raffles Hotel]]
* Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research - currently [[Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum]]
* [[Raffles Place]]
<!--please do not add any less famous landmarks here, specially if redlinked, they'll only be deleted-->

===Business===
* [[Raffles Holdings]]
* [[Raffles Medical Group]]
* [[Yantai Raffles Shipyard]]
<!--please do not add any less famous businesses here, specially if redlinked, they'll only be deleted-->

===Education===
* [[Raffles College]] – currently [[National University of Singapore]] (NUS)
* [[Raffles Girls' Primary School]]
* [[Raffles Girls' School (Secondary)]]
* [[Raffles Institution|Raffles Institution (Secondary and Junior College)]]
* Stamford Primary School, formerly Stamford Girls' School<ref>{{cite web|url=https://roots.sg/Content/Places/landmarks/kampong-glam-heritage-trail-trail-three-along-victoria-street/stamford-primary-school|title=Stamford Primary School|website=Roots.sg|publisher=Roots|access-date=9 November 2019|archive-date=9 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191109044810/https://roots.sg/Content/Places/landmarks/kampong-glam-heritage-trail-trail-three-along-victoria-street/stamford-primary-school|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[Stamford American International School]]

===Sports and recreation===
* [[Raffles Cup]]

===Transport===
* [[Raffles Institution Lane]]
* [[Raffles Lighthouse]]
* [[Raffles Place MRT station]]
* [[Stamford Road]]
* Raffles Class – The former name for [[Singapore Airlines]] Business Class

Two statues in Singapore, one made of white marble along the [[Singapore River]], while another made of bronze in front of the [[Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall]].

==See also==
* [[History of Singapore]]
* [[Raffles's Landing Site]]
==Notes==
{{notelist}}
==References==
{{Reflist|refs=
{{Refn|name=Bastin|{{Cite book |last1=Bastin |first1=John Sturgus |author-link1=John Sturgus Bastin |last2=Weizenegger |first2=Julie |date=15 January 2016 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nSAyDAAAQBAJ&pg=PT199 |title=The family of Sir Stamford Raffles |location=Singapore |publisher=[[National Library Board]], [[Government of Singapore]] and [[Marshall Cavendish|Marshall Cavendish International Asia Pte Ltd]] editions |isbn=978-981-09-7236-3}} cited in [[#InfopediaRafflesFamily|Family of Sir Stamford Raffles]] at the [[Singapore Infopedia]].}}
{{Refn|name=SophiaRaffles|{{Cite book|last1=Raffles|first1=Lady Sophia|author-link1=Sophia Hull|last2=Raffles|first2=Thomas Stamford|author-link2=Thomas Stamford Raffles|date=1830|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B-tdAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA1|title=Memoir of the life and public services of Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, F.R.S. &c.; particularly in the government of Java, 1811–1816; and of Bencoolen and its dependencies, 1817–1824; with details of the commerce and resources of the Eastern archipelago; and selections from his correspondence|language=en-gb|location=London, England|publisher=[[John Murray (publishing house)|John Murray]] ([[John Murray III]])|via=[[Google Books]]}}}}
}}

==Sources==
{{Refbegin}}
* {{Cite book|last=Barley|first=Nigel|author-link=Nigel Barley (anthropologist)|date=1999|title=The Golden Sword: Stamford Raffles and the East|language=en-gb|location=London, England|publisher=[[British Museum Press]]|isbn=0-7141-2542-3}}
* {{Cite book|last=Barley|first=Nigel|author-link=Nigel Barley (anthropologist)|date=2009|title=In the Footsteps of Stamford Raffles|language=en-gb|location=Singapore|publisher=[[Monsoon Publishing]]|isbn=978-981-08-3534-7}}
* {{Cite journal|last=Borschberg|first=Peter|date=2019|title=Dutch objections to British Singapore, 1819–1824: law, politics, commerce and a diplomatic misstep|journal=[[Journal of Southeast Asian Studies]]|volume=50|issue=4|pages=540–561|doi=10.1017/S0022463420000053|s2cid=226792993}}
* {{Cite journal|last=Brayley|first=E. W.|year=1827|title=Some account of the life and writings and contributions to science, of the late Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, Knt., F.R.S., S.A. & L.S., &c; successively Lieutenant-Governor of Java and its dependencies, and of Fort Marlborough, Singapore, and the British Possessions in Sumatra: Founder and President of the Zoological Society|language=en-gb|journal=[[The Zoological Journal]]|volume=3|issue=9|pages=1–48}}
* {{Cite journal|last=Brayley|first=E. W.|year=1827|title=Some account of the life and writings and contributions to science, of the late Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, Knt., F.R.S., S.A. & L.S., &c; successively Lieutenant-Governor of Java and its dependencies, and of Fort Marlborough, Singapore, and the British Possessions in Sumatra: Founder and President of the Zoological Society|language=en-gb|journal=[[The Zoological Journal]]|volume=3|issue=11|pages=382–400}}
* {{Cite book|last1=Chandler|first1=David P.|last2=Steinberg|first2=David J.|year=1988|title=In Search of Southeast Asia|location=Hawaii|publisher=[[University of Hawaii Press]]|isbn=978-0-8248-1110-5}}
* {{Cite book|last=Wurtzburg|first=Charles E.|year=1986|title=Raffles of the Eastern Isles|language=en-gb|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]|isbn=0-19-582605-1}}
* {{Cite book|last=de Jong|first=Joop|year=2000|title=De Waaier van het Fortuin|publisher=[[SDU publishers]]|isbn=90-12-08974-3}}
* {{Cite book|last=Glendinning|first=Victoria|author-link=Victoria Glendinning|year=2012|title=Raffles and the Golden Opportunity|language=en-gb|publisher=[[Profile Books]]|isbn=978-1846686030|url-access=registration|url=https://Archive.org/details/rafflesgoldenopp0000glen}}
* {{Cite book|editor-last=Murdoch|editor-first=Adrian |year=2013|title=Raffles – Three Lives|publisher=[[Rott Publishing]]}}
* {{Cite book|last=Noltie|first=H. J.|year=2009|title=Raffles' Ark Redrawn: Natural History Drawings from the Collections of Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles|language=en-gb|location=London, England|publisher=[[British Library Publishing]]|isbn=978-0-7123-5084-6}}
* {{Cite book|last1=Finlayson|first1=George|author-link1=George Finlayson|last2=Raffles|first2=Sir Thomas Stamford, F.R.S.|author-link2=Stamford Raffles|date=27 April 2014|orig-year=1826|title=The Mission to Siam, and Hué the Capital of Cochin China, in the Years 1821-2|url=http://www.Gutenberg.org/files/45505/45505-0.txt|format=txt|language=en-gb|location=[[Fairbanks]]|publisher=[[Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation]]|id=EBook #45505|access-date=10 June 2015}}
{{Refend}}

==Further reading==
{{Refbegin}}
* {{Cite book|last=Jardine|first=Sir William|year= 1844|url=https://Archive.org/details/naturalhistoryof00jardrich|title=The natural history of game birds|language=en-gb|chapter=with a memoir on Sir Stamford Raffles}}
* {{Cite book |last=Raffles |first=Stamford |year=1830 |title=History of Java |language=en-gb |url=https://Archive.org/details/historyofjava01raff |location=London |publisher=John Murray |edition=2nd |volume=I}}
* {{Cite book |last=Raffles |first=Stamford |year=1830 |title=History of Java |language=en-gb |url=https://Archive.org/details/historyofjava02raff |location=London |publisher=John Murray |edition=2nd |volume=II}}
* {{Cite book|last=Woodman|first=Dorothy|date=September 1954|title=Raffles of Java, 1781–1826|language=en-gb|publisher=[[History Today]]|volume=4#9|pages=581–590}}
{{Refend}}

==External links==
{{Library resources box|onlinebooks=no|by=yes}}
* {{Wikiquote-inline}}
* {{Commons category-inline}}
* {{Wikisource author-inline}}
* {{NPG name}}
* {{cite web|last=Firaci|first=Biagio|date=10 June 2014|url=http://www.singlish.it/raffles/|title=Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles and the British colonisation of Singapore among Penang, Melaka and Bencoonen|website=Singlish.it|access-date=5 May 2021|archive-date=28 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191028052618/http://www.singlish.it/raffles/|url-status=dead}}
* {{cite web|url=http://rmbr.nus.edu.sg/history/raffles.htm|title=Raffles biography|website=RMBR.NUS.edu.sg|location=Singapore|publisher=[[Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140209231236/http://rmbr.nus.edu.sg/history/raffles.htm|archive-date=9 February 2014|access-date=5 May 2021}}
* {{Cite DNB |wstitle= Raffles, Thomas Stamford | volume= 47 |last= Hamilton |first= John  |author-link= John Hamilton, 1st Viscount Sumner |pages = 161-165|short=1}}
* {{Find a Grave|5971233|Thomas Stamford Raffles}}
* {{cite web|url=https://www.TheGuardian.com/books/2012/dec/05/raffles-victoria-glendinning-review|title=Raffles and the Golden Opportunity|language=en-gb|website=[[The Guardian]]|date=5 December 2012}}

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{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Robert Rollo Gillespie]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies|Lieutenant-Governor of the Dutch East Indies]]|years=1811–1816}}
{{s-aft|after=[[John Fendall]]}}
{{s-bef|before=George John Siddons|as=Resident of Bencoolen}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Governors of Bencoolen|Lieutenant-Governor of Bencoolen]]|years=1818–1824}}
{{s-aft|after=John Prince|as=Resident of Bencoolen}}
{{s-end}}

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