On 1 April 1867, the Straits Settlements comprising Singapore, Malacca and Penang became a crown colony with Harry St. George Ord appointed as the first governor.[1] Ord had the challenging task of reorganising the administration after the Straits Settlements was separated from British India and placed under the direct rule of the Crown.[2] The crown colony constitution provided for the establishment of an executive and legislative council to assist the governor.[3]
Ord faced considerable opposition – especially from the unofficial members in the Legislative Council and the mercantile community in Singapore – due to his "masterful and overbearing"[4] personality.[5] He not only paid little heed to appeals from European and Chinese merchants for intervention in the Malay States, but also sought to introduce reforms that were perceived as detrimental to commercial interests.[6] Ord was also responsible for the construction of Government House (now known as the Istana) for which he was accused of personal extravagance.[7]
Despite his unpopularity, Ord was acknowledged as a capable administrator for his ability to transform "a dependency which had always been a burden on Indian finances"[8] into a prosperous colonial port-settlement.[9] He retired in 1873 and was succeeded by Andrew Clarke.[10]
References
1. Buckley, C. B. (1984). An anecdotal history of old times in Singapore 1819–1867 (pp. 786–787). Singapore: Oxford University Press. Call no.: RSING 959.57 BUC-[HIS].
2. Swettenham, F. A. (1975). British Malaya: An account of the origin and progress of British influence in Malaya (p. 104). New York: AMS Press. Call no.: RSING 959.5 SWE.
3. Turnbull, C. M. (2009). A history of modern Singapore, 1819–2005 (p. 94). Singapore: NUS Press. Call no.: RSING 959.57 TUR.
4. Swettenham, 1975, p. 104.
5. Turnbull, 2009, pp. 95–96.
6. Turnbull, 2009, pp. 96–99; Swettenham, 1975, p. 173.
7. Shorthand report of the legislative council. (1870, November 22). Straits Times Overland Journal, p. 4; Legislative council. (1871, December 20). Straits Times Overland Journal, p. 3. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
8. Swettenham, 1975, p. 104.
9. Swettenham, 1975, p. 104.
10. Swettenham, 1975, pp. 132, 173.
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The information in this article is valid as at 2014 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.
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