Sir Stamford Raffles

Sir Stamford Raffles was a British statesman and colonial administrator famous for founding Singapore in 1819. He envisioned a strategic trading port to strengthen Britain’s influence in Southeast Asia. Raffles established Singapore’s free port status, encouraging commerce and diversity. His efforts laid the groundwork for Singapore's development into a major global hub. Beyond this, he also contributed to scientific and cultural understanding of the region through his writings and support of research. Raffles is remembered as a key figure in British colonial history and for transforming Singapore into an important international trading center.