ABSTRACT
This chapter shows that Sir Stamford Raffles' attitude to Singapore in its early days was, at best, one of benign neglect. Raffles and Lt Col. William Farquhar, the East India Company (EIC) officials who instigated the setting up of the British trading post at Singapore in 1819 were motivated by pragmatism rather than liberal economic ideals of free trade. Rather than unleashing unbridled freedom of trade their founding and development of Singapore embodied their aim of replacing Dutch dominance in the region with British. From 1795 until 1816, the British EIC along with country traders, private and foreign merchants made the most of British control of the region, enjoying surge in business. Besides, a new port would protect and extend Indian trade and help secure economic stability in India. Unaware of the renewed Dutch treaty with Rhio, Hastings sent Raffles to establish a new post.
