In 1819, Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles founded which colonial state?
a. Singapore
b. Nicobar Islands
c. Iceland
d. Greenland
Answers
Extra Information -
Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles founded the colonial state "Singapore" in the year 1819.
The Modern Singapore was founded in the year 1819 by Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles as a British trading colony.
According to Sang Nila Utama, a king from Palembang founded a city and named it as "The Lion City" or "Singapura" in 14th century. At that time, The state was ruled by five ancient kings of Singapura.
Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles was appointed as a Lieutenant Governor of Bencoolen in Sumatra . He landed in Singapore on 29th January 1819. He then recognised the immense potential of an island nation and established Singapore as a trading colony.
In 1819, 'Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles' founded the 'colonial state' of Singapore.
EXPLANATION:
Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles was a British colonial administrator, and the one who had founded the colonial state of Singapore. When Java (Indonesia presently) returned to Dutch rule in the year 1816, Raffles bought the Singapore Island in the year 1819 for the British East India Company.
Raffles believed that the British must find a way to counter the Dutch dominance in the region of British Bencoolen in Sumatra (now known as the Bengkulu City).
The Dutch had tight and stringent control over trade in this region and British trading ships were heavily taxed at Dutch ports suppressing and curbing British trade in this region.
Raffles inferred that the only way to challenge the dominance of Dutch was to establish a new port in the region. Prevailing 'British ports' were not in a 'strategic position' to become major trading centres. In 1818 Raffles went on an expedition to set-up a new British base (port) in the region.
On 28th January, 1819, Raffles and his team landed on the Island of Singapore and immediately recognised it as ideal for the purpose due to its position at the southern tip of 'Malay Peninsula', near the 'Malacca Straits' and its exceptional natural harbour, 'timber' for repairing ships, and fresh water supplies.
Above all, it was not occupied by the Dutch. Raffles entered into an agreement with the Sultan of Johore, who was the head of a Malay settlement near the Singapore River and a treaty was signed on 6th February 1819 marking the founding of Singapore as a British colony.