In 1826, the settlements of Singapore, Penang and Malacca were united to form the Presidency of the Straits Settlements. Then Governor of Penang Robert Fullerton was appointed as the first governor of the Straits Settlements.[1]
Upon assuming the post, Fullerton's principal concern was to raise revenue such that the Straits Settlements could finance its own administration.[2] To that end, he formulated measures that included a retrenchment scheme, new land taxes as well as new fines and fees in the Law Courts.[3] However, proposals to impose export duties and a levy on the wealth of Chinese and Indian immigrants returning to their homeland were abandoned in the face of strong opposition not only from the Straits merchant community, but also from colonial officials who advocated free trade.[4]
Eventually, Fullerton’s inability to balance the budget led to intervention by then governor-general of India, Lord William Bentinck, who arrived in 1829 with orders from the East India Company to reorganise the administration of the Straits Settlements and reduce its size.[5] Fullerton returned to Europe in 1830 when the Straits Settlements was reduced from the status of a presidency to that of a residency that was dependent on the Presidency of Bengal under the government of Bengal.[6] He was succeeded by Robert Ibbetson.[7]
References
1. Buckley, C. B. (1984). An anecdotal history of old times in Singapore 1819–1867 (p. 194). Singapore: Oxford University Press. Call no.: RSING 959.57 BUC-[HIS].
2. Cowan, C. D. (1950, March). Early Penang & the rise of Singapore 1805–1932. Journal of the Malayan Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, vol. 23, no.2 (152), 16. Retrieved January 29, 2014 from JSTOR.
3. Cowan, 1950, p. 17.
4. Turnbull, C. M. (1972). The Straits Settlements, 1826–1867: Indian presidency to crown colony (pp. 189–190, 201). London: Athlone Press. Call no.: RSING 959.57 TUR-[HIS]; Cowan, 1950, p. 17.
5. Makepeace, W., Brooke, G. E., & Braddell, R. St. J. (Eds.). (1991). One hundred years of Singapore (pp. 21–22). Singapore: Oxford University Press. Call no.: RSING 959.57 ONE-[HIS].
6. Buckley, 1984, p. 206; Cowan, 1950, p. 17.
7. Makepeace, Brooke & Braddell, 1991, p. 82
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.