Singapore Colonial Records

British Colonization (1819-1942)
Early European influences on Singapore included the Portuguese and Dutch. However, no colonization appears to have been attempted in Singapore until the British. In 1819, the British established a free port in Singapore which caused for a rapid growth in its population. In 1824, the Treaty of Friendship and Alliance ceded Singapore and neighboring islands to the East India Company and a British governor was installed. Singapore was included in the Straits Settlements in 1826, became the capital in 1836, and a crown colony in 1865. During World War II, Singapore was surrendered to the Japanese in 1942. In 1945, Britain regained control of Singapore and it became a crown colony in 1946 when the Straits Settlement dissolved. Singapore gained independence from Great Britain in 1965 and became the Republic of Singapore.