Summary
Sir Thomas Stamford Bingley Raffles is the Founder of Modern Singapore. He was an employee of the largest trading company of its time; the East India Company. Raffles landed on Singapore in 1819 with the sole purpose to set up a British trading port to rival Dutch ports. By shrewd negotiations with the local rulers and improvements in Anglo-Dutch relationships, Singapore was ceded to Britain in perpetuity.
Raffles main contribution is the vision of an enlightened community which is embodied in the Singapore Town Plan. His ideals of an enlightened society to be met with a structure of governance, trade, education and even religion. Unfortunately, Raffles was not present to see his “Little Child” come of age and passed on in 1826 in England.
Raffles, despite being an absentee father, most of his fundamental ideas are still in place today. Let’s take a walk through the centre of the Colonial District to retrace the key moments and contribution of this great man.
Highlights
The founding of Singapore. Early colonial Singapore. Raffles contributions; The port colony of Singapore, Law & Order, Education & the Singapore Institution, Raffles as a botanist/zoologist/naturalist, The East India Company and modern stock exchange, Dividing Southeast Asia (Anglo- Dutch Treaty). The legacy today.
Tour Details
Please see sidebar for full overview.
Meals Food and Beverages excluded.
Not Included Transfers to / from airport / hotel, porterage, tips, entrance fees to places of entertainment unless specified.
Advisory Light tropical clothing is recommended with comfortable walking shoes. Weather is not always sunny, please bring along an umbrella in case it rains. Please ensure sufficient personal insurance cover during tour.
Accessibility & Fitness Minimum medium fitness level recommended due to brisk walking pace. Total walking distance is about 2km on flat grounds (with lots of breaks in between) but there may be some staircases during journey.
Itinerary
Raffles Place • Singapore Marina/ Marina Bay • Boat Quay • Fort Canning Hill
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