The strategic geographical location of Singapore along the rich trading route between the West and China was just what the British had in mind when they searched for a new port in the Far East.

When Raffles landed in Singapore there were groups of Malays, Chinese and Orang Laut living on the island. After Raffles had founded Singapore, he left his assistant, Major Farquhar, in charge of the new settlement. In order to let as many people as possible know about the new British settlement of Singapore, Farquhar sent messages to his friends in Melaka. He also stationed a British official on St. John’s Island, situated at the south of Singapore, to tell the captains of passing ships about the new settlement.

Soon, news of the founding spread, not only to neighbouring countries, but also the countries as far away as India and China. Traders and shippers were attracted to Singapore because it was a free port, which meant that they did not have to pay any customs duties or taxes on goods they brought into, or out of, Singapore.

Soon the original settlers found themselves joined by a host of hew migrants. These included Malays from neighbouring countries, Arabs, Indians, Chinese, Europeans, Eurasians and others like the Armenians.

As the population grew, there were numerous issues with law and order. Chinese triads controlled much of the local businesses and crime was rampant. In 1826 Singapore, Penang and Malacca were combined as the Straits Settlements to form an outlying residency of the British East India Company. In 1867 the Straits Settlements were made a British Crown Colony to help facilitate more streamlined government and stricter civil order to protect the local population and British investments.

From the 1840s, Singapore became an important coaling station for steam merchant ships. Towards the late 19th century, Singapore became a staple port servicing the geographical hinterland of the Malay Peninsula.

With the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, Singapore’s already lucrative trade business grew even further. In the early 1900s with the growth of the automobile in the West, the demand for rubber from Southeast Asia grew and did the need for tin mainly from Malaysia. This helped to boost Singapore’s trade making it one of the world’s major ports.

In 1939 the British built an enormous naval base on Singapore, primarily as a defence against the growing threat posed by the expansion of the Japanese Empire.