Why was Singapore chosen by the British?

Why was Singapore chosen by the British?

During the 19th century, European trading companies such as the British and the Dutch East India Companies were competing fiercely outside Europe for profit and monopoly of trade routes.
Britain had already developed commerce with china, India and the Malay Archipelago.
The Dutch were the main European power in the Malay Archipelago.
They controlled large part of the region including Java and Melaka.

The Dutch restricted the British and other Europeans to trade only at Batavia in Java.
British trader was charged high fees for using the port and had to pay heavy taxes on goods which they sold or bought. Thus, the dutch became the biggest rival of the British in Southeast Asia.

In the early part of  the 19th century, Britain's trade with China had become very lucrative.
However, the two settlements for ships to replenish their stocks at Penang and Bencoolen were unsuitable.
The British sold opium to the chinese in return for tea.

Stamford Raffles was concerned about the Dutch spreading their monopoly.
He wrote to the Directors of the British East India Company.
This prompted the British to search for a new trading settlement south of Dutch Melaka.
He believed that Singapore was suitable as a port with its natural advantages such as an excellent harbour and a good supply of drinking water.

Diary of a POW

01 November 1939; 11:30pm

I am worried about my wife and children outside. How are they doing out there? I was being captured by the Japanese soldiers few weeks ago and was held in this damp and dark room. My parents were shot to death as they resisted the arrest by the Japanese soldier. I wonder who will help me bury them. My wife and children managed to escape away safely and is now somewhere outside. Everyday there were at least one of them who were dragged out and prosecuted by the Japanese and I am worried that soon it will be my turn. Even if I am not prosecuted by them, I may probably starve to death sooner or later due to the lack of food and the hard work I have to do everyday.

Hello. We will be posting one part of the story every two days about this Prisoner of War.
Stay tuned to any updates.

Singapura, the lion city.

Singapore was used to be called Temasek.

Here's how Sang Utama found singapore:

1.Sang Utama caught sight of an island across the sea.

The island had sand so white that it look like a piece of cloth

2.He asked one of his ministers, Indra Bopal, "What place is that?"
Indra Bopal answered, "Your Highness, that land is known as Temasek."
"Let's us sail to that land" Sang Utama said

3. A violent storm broke out during the Journey.
The anxious boatman said to the ruler that the boat was sinking because if the king's crown.
 The storm subsided only when Sang Utama threw his crown overboard

4. The boat finally landed.
Sang Utma and his ministers went to the island to hunt wild animals.

5. While hunting, Sang Utama saw a fast-moving beast that had a red body and a black head.
He asked his minister what the creature was.
One of them finally said, "Your Highness, I heard in ancient times it was a lion that had that appearance.
I think we must have seen a lion.

6. Sang utama agreed with his ministers that sighting a lion was a good sign.
He decided to establish a city at Temasek, which he called Singapura or Lion City.

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