1819 Singapore Treaty
| Founding of modern Singapore | |
|---|---|
Singapore from the Rocky Point, 1819 | |
| Frequency | Commemorated for specific major anniversaries |
| Location(s) | Singapore |
| Founded | 6 February 1819 |
| Most recent | 2019 (Bicentennial) |
| Website | www (official bicentennial webpage) |
| 1819 Treaty of Singapore | |
| Formal Name | 1819 Treaty of Friendship and Alliance |
| Signed | 6 February 1819 |
| Location | Padang, Singapore |
| Replaces | Provisional treaty signed on 30 January 1819 |
| Replaced by | 1824 Treaty of Friendship and Alliance |
| Signatories | Sir Stamford Raffles, Temenggong Abdul Rahman, Sultan Hussein Shah |
| Languages | English, Malay |
The signing of the Treaty of Singapore on 6 February 1819 is officially recognised as the founding of modern-day Singapore. The Treaty allowed the British East India Company to open up a trading post in Singapore, marking the beginning of a British settlement. As Singapore was also a major trading port in ancient times, it is also often referred to as the founding of modern Singapore to reflect the fact that the history of Singapore stretches back further.
Since its signing, both the previous British colonial government and the present government of Singapore has held major commemorative events at every golden jubilee intervals, in 1869 (50th), 1919 (100th), 1969 (150th) and 2019 (200th), to mark Singapore's modern founding. A treaty of central importance to the modern history of Singapore and its national mythos, its legacy remains complex, with both critical and pragmatic views about what it represents and means for the country.