Strait Settlement(1826-1946)

Strait Settlement (海峽殖民地)were a group of British territories located in South East Asia. It was established in 1826 as part of territories controlled by British East India Company

1826 - formation
The Strait Settlement was originally included Penang, Singapore and Malacca. In 1786, Sir Francis Light acquired Penang from Sultan of Kedah,and 1798 Province Wellesley was acquired. In 6-2-1819, Sir Stamford Raffles took Singapore. In 1824, British exchange Bancoolen(west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia) with Dutch Malacca(West coast of Malaya) under Anglo-Dutch Treaty. The Chinese called the settlement "San-Cho-Foo"(三洲府) which litrally mean three settlements.

In 1826, the three British settlements were under Incorporated Settlement of Prince of Wales Island, Singapore and Malacca. The Prince of Wales or Penang as capital. In 1832, the capital was moved to Singapore.

1867 - under direct control by the British
But from 1-4-1867, the Strait Settlements came under direct control as British crown colony. The settlement was now answerable to the Colony Office in London, instead of East India Company in Calcutta, India. The Head of the Strait Settlements was the Governor,who administrated the colony with the help of Executive Council(comprised of official members , and legislative council which composed partly officials and partly nominated members, but officials have narrow majority.Penang and Malacca were administrated by resident councillors,under direct control of the Governor.

1874-1906 New members
In 1874, Dindings was ceded to British under Pangkor Treaty 1874.

The Cocos Island(Keeling Island, and Christmas Island were in 1886 transferred to Strait Settlement. Labuan joined in 1906.

1946 - dissolution
The colony was dissolved on 1-4-1946, after the WW2. Singapore become separate crown colony.Penang and Malacca joined the newly established Malayan Union. Labuan was initially annexed to Singapore, but later joined the new colony of British North Borneo.The Cocos Island(Keeling Island)and Christmas Island were transferred to Australian administration in 1955 and 1957 respectively.

Medical Service

The Headquarter of Medical department of the Strait Settlement was in Penang where the Senior Surgeon has his official residence. The Government Medical Service was simple,which included Senior Surgeon (or Superintending Surgeon)who was the professional and administration head of the medical service, at Penang. Assistant Surgeon at each of the settlements.The first doctors are all Medical Officers in the army of East India Company, who are both military and civil service. Later on however there were separation of duties. The senior Surgeon left Penang when the headquarter of Medical Service followed the capital of Strait Settlement, moved to Singapore in 1835. So until 1946, the strait settlement medical service was controlled from Singapore.

Chronological list of Governors in Strait Settlement

14 Aug 1826 Straits Settlements (Malacca, Penang, Singapore)
(British East India Company rule to 1858, then subordinated
to British India to 1867). 1832, capital moved from Penang to
Singapore
1 Apr 1867 Straits Settlements a separate crown colony.
15 Feb 1942 - 5 Sep 1945 Japanese occupation.

Governors
27 Nov 1826 - 12 Nov 1830 Robert Fullerton (b. 1773 - d. 1831)
12 Nov 1830 - 6 Dec 1833 Robert Ibbetson (b. 1789 - d. 1860)
7 Dec 1833 - 17 Nov 1836 Kenneth Murchison (b. 1794 - d. 1854)
18 Nov 1836 - Jan 1843 Samuel George Bonham (b. 1803 - d. 1863)
Aug 1843 - 21 Mar 1855 William John Butterworth (b. 1801 - d. 1856)
21 Mar 1855 - 6 Aug 1859 Edmund Augustus Blundell (b. 1804 - d. 1868)
6 Aug 1859 - 16 Mar 1867 Orfeur Cavenagh (b. 1821 - d. 1891)
17 Mar 1867 - 3 Nov 1873 Harry St. George Ord (b. 1819 - d. 1885)
4 Nov 1873 - 7 May 1875 Andrew Clarke (b. 1825 - d. 1902)
8 May 1875 - 3 Apr 1877 Sir William Francis Jervois (b. 1821 - d. 1897)
3 Apr 1877 - 29 Oct 1877 Edward Archibald Harbord Anson (b. 1826 - d. 1925)
(1st time) (acting)
29 Oct 1877 - 10 Feb 1879 William Cleaver Francis Robinson (b. 1834 - d. 1897)
10 Feb 1879 - 6 May 1880 Edward Archibald Harbord Anson (s.a.)
(2nd time) (acting)
6 May 1880 - 17 Oct 1887 Sir Frederic Aloysius Weld (b. 1823 - d. 1891)
17 Oct 1887 - 30 Aug 1893 Cecil Clementi Smith (b. 1840 - d. 1916)
30 Aug 1893 - 1 Feb 1894 William Edward Maxwell (acting) (b. 1846 - d. 1897)
1 Feb 1894 - 7 Dec 1899 Sir Charles Bullen Hugh Mitchell (b. 1836 - d. 1899)
7 Dec 1899 - 5 Nov 1901 James Alexander Swettenham (b. 1846 - d. 1933)
(acting)
5 Nov 1901 - 12 Oct 1903 Sir Frank Athelstone Swettenham (b. 1850 - d. 1946)
15 Apr 1904 - 9 Apr 1911 Sir John Anderson (b. 1858 - d. 1918)
9 Sep 1911 - 24 Aug 1919 Sir Arthur Henderson Young (b. 1854 - d. 1938)
3 Feb 1920 - 5 May 1927 Sir Laurence Nunns Guillemard (b. 1862 - d. 1951)
3 Jun 1927 - 20 Oct 1929 Sir Hugh Charles Clifford (b. 1866 - d. 1941)
5 Feb 1930 - 16 Feb 1934 Sir Cecil Clementi (b. 1875 - d. 1947)
9 Nov 1934 - 15 Feb 1942 Sir Shenton Whitelegge Thomas (b. 1879 - d. 1962)
(1st time)
(Japanese prisoner 15 Feb 1942 - 15 Aug 1945)
15 Feb 1942 - 12 Sep 1945 Japanese occupation
12 Sep 1945 - 1 Apr 1946 Sir Shenton Whitelegge Thomas (s.a.)
(2nd time)