Trinity College Library. The First 150 Years

Trinity College Library. The First 150 Years

Author: Philip Gaskell

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2010-10-31

Total Pages: 302

ISBN-13: 110801593X

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Gaskell investigates the early history of Trinity College Library and traces its development into the greatest of college libraries.


A History of Modern Singapore, 1819-2005

A History of Modern Singapore, 1819-2005

Author: C.M. Turnbull

Publisher: NUS Press

Published: 2009-01-01

Total Pages: 490

ISBN-13: 9971694301

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

When C.M. Turnbull's A History of Singapore, 1819-1975 appeared in 1977, it quickly achieved recognition as the definitive history of Singapore. A second edition published in 1989 brought the story up to the elections held in 1988. In this fully revised edition, rewritten to take into account recent scholarship on Singapore, the author has added a chapter on Goh Chok Tong's premiership (1990-2004) and the transition to a government headed by Lee Hsien Loong. The book now ends in 2005, when the Republic of Singapore celebrated its 40th anniversary as an independent nation. Major changes occurred in the 1990s as the generation of leaders that oversaw the transition from a colony to independence stepped aside in favour of a younger generation of leaders. Their task was to shape a course that sustained the economic growth and social stability achieved by their predecessors, and they would be tested towards the end of the decade when Southeast Asia experienced a severe financial crisis. Many modern studies on Singapore focus on current affairs or very recent events and pay a great deal of attention to Singapore's successful transition from the developing to the developed world. However, younger historians are increasingly interested in other aspects of the country's past, particularly social and cultural issues. A History of Modern Singapore, 1819-2005 provides a solid foundation and an overarching framework for this research, surveying Singapore's trajectory from a small British port to a major trading and financial hub within the British Empire and finally to the modern city state that Singapore became after gaining independence in 1965.


Historical Dictionary of Singapore

Historical Dictionary of Singapore

Author: Justin Corfield

Publisher: Scarecrow Press

Published: 2010-12-02

Total Pages: 397

ISBN-13: 0810873877

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

In spite of Singapore's small size, it has long had a major impact on the world because of its geographical location and its wealth. The British initially made the island a major port for the shipping of goods and later as an airline hub for the region. These factors, along with a steady government, have helped to contribute to the country's affluence. This multicultural, multiracial, and multi-religious island-nation is the envy of many countries in the world, which have tried to emulate the economic success of Singapore. The new edition of the Historical Dictionary of Singapore has been completely rewritten since the first edition was released 20 years ago. It relates the history of this country through a chronology, an introductory essay, an expansive bibliography, and over 500 cross-referenced dictionary entries on significant persons, events, places, organizations, and other aspects of Singapore history from the earliest times to the present.


Eastern Customs

Eastern Customs

Author: Derek Mackay

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing

Published: 2005-03-24

Total Pages: 317

ISBN-13: 0857712306

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Generations of young Britons made their careers in Malaya. Some scaled the heights of the administrative service and are well recorded in the formal histories. Others served in less high profile but equally challenging departments, carrying out the work of government in difficult and sometimes dangerous circumstances. Eastern Customs traces the fascinating story of the Customs Service in British Malaya and those who made up its ranks. The service had a brief but colourful history from its introduction in 1910. For the next three decades, it took on the opium monopoly and became responsible for its importation, processing and distribution. It was a lucrative business, providing more than 50 per cent of Government revenue. But as international opposition to drugs hardened the service controlled and eventually moved to eliminate the trade, becoming an anti-narcotics force after 1946.


Singapore – Two Hundred Years of the Lion City

Singapore – Two Hundred Years of the Lion City

Author: Anthony Webster

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2019-10-29

Total Pages: 271

ISBN-13: 1351020447

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Two hundred years after Singapore’s foundation by Stamford Raffles in 1819, this book reflects on the historical development of the city, putting forward much new research and new thinking. It discusses Singapore’s emergence as a regional economic hub, explores its strategic importance and considers its place in the development of the British Empire. Subjects covered include the city’s initial role as a strategic centre to limit the resurgence of Dutch power in Southeast Asia after the Napoleonic Wars, the impact of the Japanese occupation, and the reasons for Singapore’s exit from the Malaysian Federation in 1965. The book concludes by examining how Singapore’s history is commemorated at present, reinforcing the image of the city as prosperous, peaceful and forward looking, and draws out the lessons which history can provide concerning the city’s likely future development.


Sir Charles Bullen Hugh Mitchell G.c.m.g.: 1836 To 1899 - The Forgotten Colonial Governor

Sir Charles Bullen Hugh Mitchell G.c.m.g.: 1836 To 1899 - The Forgotten Colonial Governor

Author: Michael G Gray

Publisher: World Scientific

Published: 2023-05-19

Total Pages: 367

ISBN-13: 9811267863

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

This is the first known biography of Sir Charles Bullen Hugh Mitchell G C M G, former Governor of the Straits Settlements and District Grand Master of the freemasons in the Eastern Archipelago.The book traces his early life as an officer in the Royal Marines, where he served for 15 years, ending up with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, as well as his long, distinguished career in the Colonial Service, serving Queen Victoria in many countries including Natal in Southern Africa during and after the Zulu Wars, British Honduras, British Guiana, Fiji and Singapore.It is his time in Singapore that is given extensive treatment in the book. Having been sworn in as Governor and Commander-in-Chief of The Straits Settlements and their Dependencies (the 'Colony') on 1 February 1894, Mitchell inherited a colony, which was in very serious financial difficulty. With his prudent financial management, the governor brought the Colony back to a strong financial position and completed many projects. He was also instrumental in the implementation of the Federation of Malay States and was its first High Commissioner.His governorship was cut short when he died suddenly at the Colony's Government House (the current Istana) on 7 December 1899 and was buried in Singapore.However, his legacy was written out by his successor Sir Frank Swettenham who would take credit for the Colony's achievements. To this end, this book will go towards correcting the history of Singapore and Malaya at that time.The book also contains one of the very few public accounts of freemasonry in Singapore during the 19th Century and those of prominent freemasons participating in the colonial administration and commercial sector in the Colony.


The Fatal Fortress

The Fatal Fortress

Author: Bill Clements

Publisher: Pen and Sword

Published: 2016-11-11

Total Pages: 148

ISBN-13: 1473829585

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

The military historian presents a fascinating reassessment of Britain’s Singapore Naval Base and the WWII Battle of Singapore. The Fall of Singapore in February 1942 was arguably the greatest disaster suffered by the British Empire. Between 1923 and 1938, the Singapore naval base had been upgraded with some of the largest coast guns ever installed. But the guns’ design and incorrect siting have since been blamed for the humiliating loss during World War II. In The Fatal Fortress, Bill Clements traces the history of Singapore’s armaments from the city’s founding in 1819 to the demise of coast artillery in the British Army in 1953. He also follows the development of artillery through the Victorian era of muzzleloading guns to the introduction of breechloading guns in the twentieth century. Clements argues that it was not the siting of the guns that brought about the fall of Singapore, but an overall failure in command and control and a lack of suitable ammunition. This volume is illustrated throughout with photographs, drawings and plans, and contains a gazetteer describing all the batteries and forts, both existing and demolished. There is also an annex giving the details of the guns that were installed in Singapore.


Studying Singapore's Past

Studying Singapore's Past

Author: Ping Tjin Thum

Publisher: NUS Press

Published: 2012-07-01

Total Pages: 274

ISBN-13: 9971696460

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

C.M. (Mary) Turnbull's contributions to historical writing on Singapore extended from her 1962 thesis, published in 1972 as "The Straits Settlements, 1826-1867: Indian Presidency to Crown Colony", to her magisterial history of Singapore, first published in 1977 and re-issued in 2009 in an updated edition as A History of Singapore, 1819-2005. Her approach to history involved detailed work with documents and published materials, with a particular focus on political and economic history. One contributor to the present volume described the book as an "exercise in endowing a modern 'nation-state' with a coherent past that should explain the present." As styles in history evolved, younger scholars including some of her former students and colleagues began exploring new approaches to historical research that drew on non-English-language souce material and asked fresh questions of the sources. Mary enjoyed controversy and expected debate, and had a deep interest in these accounts, which were in many ways a natural progression from her own publications even when they raised questions about her interpretations and conclusions. Studying Singapore's Past had its origins in a conference organised to discuss her work. The volume includes ten contributions, some from long-established scholars of Singapore's history, others from a new generation of researchers. Their work offers an evaluation of established understandings of Singapore's history, and gives an indication of new directions that researchers are exploring. In publishing the book, the editor not only pays tribute to a distinguished historian but also seeks to make a contribution to the historiography of Singapore and to ongoing debates about Singapore's past.