Sir Stamford Raffles
Sir Stamford Raffles was a British statesman, best known for his founding of the city of Singapore.
Connected Sites
| Site | Rationale | Link |
| Borobudur | In 1814 Raffles was the Lieutenant Governor of Java (which Britain had captured during the Napolenic wars) and heard about a huge ruined temple on the island. He ordered its clearance and visited it on May 18 1815. Raffles's book on Javan history is the earliest written reference for the name "Borobodur" which is believed to refer in part to a nearby village. | |
| Kinabalu Park | AB review of Kinabalu states - "Rafflesia, a rare parasitic plant is also found". | |
| Melaka and George Town | Raffles served in both Georgetown and Melaka. In particular he persuaded his superiors to drop a plan physically to destroy Melaka when it came under British control during the Napoleonic wars (with the objective of assisting the development of Penang instead). The Nomination file states "Further destruction was timely stopped by Thomas Stamford Raffles, agent of the EIC, who happened to be visiting Melaka. His report on Melaka to his superiors stated that, ??the name carries more weight to a Malay ear than any new settlement could," and indeed, ??with the assistance of Malacca, the whole of the Malay rajas in the Straits and to the Eastward might be rendered not only subservient but if necessary tributary". Regarding Georgetown the nomination file states "Young Stamford Raffles,... worked at Government House in what would later become Convent Light Street grounds, as Assistant Secretary under Governor Phillip Dundas". | |
| Prambanan | Did research on Sewu Temple | |
| Singapore Botanic Gardens | The first Botanic Gardens were set up by Sir Stamford Raffles, before move to the current site | |
| Tropical Rainforest Sumatra | The Rafflesia Arnoldii produces the largest individual flower on Earth. Its range is limited to the rain forests of Sumatra and Borneo. Wiki states it to be "rare and fairly hard to locate" and "how many of these plants still survive is unknown" The species was "discovered" in 1818 by a botanical expedition in West Sumatra (not within the inscribed area) led by a Thomas Arnold who was lead botanist for the East India company - Raffles was present on the expedition in his then role of Governor-General of Bencoolen on Sumatra. The name given honoured both the finder and his patron. Its presence within the nominated parks is highlighted in the justification under Criteria x. |
Suggestions?
Do you know of another WHS we could connect to Sir Stamford Raffles?
A connection should:
- Not be "self evident"
- Link at least 3 different sites
- Not duplicate or merely subdivide the "Category" assignment already identified on this site.
- Add some knowledge or insight (whether significant or trivial!) about WHS for the users of this site
- Be explained, with reference to a source