Raffles founds the Singapore Institution (1823)

Stamford Raffles established the Singapore Institution in 1823, proposing it at a meeting on 1 April and laying its foundation stone on 5 June. This initiative reflected his vision for education in the new settlement, emphasizing local and European languages. Raffles departed Singapore shortly after the ceremony, leaving the institution as a lasting legacy in the colony.

Episodes

Background and detail

Background. The 1819 treaty allowed the British East India Company to open a trading post in Singapore, marking the beginning of a British settlement. Raffles had wanted to establish a college for the people of Singapore since the founding of the colony, and wrote on 12 January 1823 that a site for a planned college had been selected.

Founding Vision. Raffles convened a meeting on 1 April 1823 with the intention of opening a Malay college in Singapore. The proposal drew on his observations from his years in southeast Asia and his belief in the importance of both the local and the European languages.

Establishment. The foundation stone was laid on 5 June 1823, marking the physical start of the Singapore Institution. Raffles departed for home on 9 June, feeling his work in establishing Singapore was complete. The institution, later known as Raffles Institution, became one of the oldest schools in the country, commemorating his legacy.

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Sources

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