Description

When the achievements of great individuals are exaggerated, an enormous shadow is cast over the work of their subordinates. This has been the case in accounts of the founding of the British settlement at Singapore in 1819 – in which Sir Stamford Raffles has been aggrandisedat the expense of Major General William Farquhar. Venerated by contemporary Bugis, Chinese and Indians for his character and accomplishments, Farquhar maintained that he was largely responsible for Singapore s rapid growth and commercial success. But his claims have been obscured for the most part by the glorification of Raffles. In this groundbreaking and carefully documented study, Nadia Wright re-examines East India Company records and other historical documents to offer a fresh analysis of the roles of Raffles and Farquhar in Singapore s founding and early development. William Farquhar and Singapore reveals new and sometimes, startling insights into the achievements and personalities of both men, and explains why Farquhar has been overlooked for so long. .