William Farquhar & Singapore - Stepping out from Raffle's shadow

BIOGRAPHY, HISTORY & SOCIAL HISTORY

Nadia H. Wright
2017. Entrepot Publishing
Softcover. 22.8cm x 15.2cm, 276 pages
Illustrated
ISBN 9789671428115

Why write William Farquhar and Singapore? A simple question, yet one involving a more complex response.

“In the 1990s, when I was researching the history of the Armenian community in Singapore, I was surprised to read an article in the Journal of the Indian Archipelago describing how William Farquhar had founded Singapore. Soon afterwards I came across two letters claiming a pivotal role for him. This was in such marked contrast to the prevalent view that Sir Stamford Raffles had founded and developed Singapore that I decided to keep copies of the material. Had Farquhar’s real role in Singapore’s founding been misrepresented in Singapore’s history?” ― Nadia Wright