William Henry Macleod Read
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William Henry Macleod Read (b. 7 February 1819 - d. 10 May 1907) was an active participant in the commercial, political and social life of Singapore between 1841 and 1887. [1]
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[edit] Early Life
William H. M. Read was born in Scotland, son of Christopher Rideout Read, co-partner of A. L. Johnston & Company. The younger Read landed in Singapore on 12 September 1841 to take over the company from his father, who retired to England in 1842. L. Johnston & Company was Singapore's leading merchant company at that time. When Alexander Laurie Johnston, his father’s co-partner, retired. William Read headed the company until his own retirement in 1887.
[edit] Political, Commercial and Social Contributions to Early Colonial Singapore
William Read was appointed Special Constable to deal with ethnic riots between the Colony’s Hokkien and Cantonese communities in 1854. He is credited with using his powers of negotiation and mediation to settle the conflict. Also in 1854, William Read was the first volunteer of the Singapore Rifle Corps, a militia unit in which he remained active for 25 years.
In 1857 Read, who was fluent in French, was made Counsul for the Holland in Singapore, a post he held until 1885. For his service as the Dutch Counsul, he was awarded the Order of the Netherlands Lion (Knight Commander). By 1865, Read was Chairman of the Singapore Chamber of Commerce. During his tenure in the then British Straits Settlement, Singapore passed from control of British India to the British Colonial Office in 1867. William Read was a member of the Legislative Council that oversaw the transfer. In 1868, Read was appointed Companion of the Order of St. Michael & St. George (C.M.G.), by Queen Victoria. Read had ongoing involvements in regional politics, including the establishment of the British Colonial presence in Borneo through co-chairmanship of the British North Borneo Provisional Association in 1881. The charter of the British North Borneo Company [2], lists merchant William Henry Macleod Read, of 25 Durham Terrace, in the Country of Middlesex, as one of its petitioners.
On February 23, 1843 Read, an avid horseman, won the first prize in the inaugural Singapore Cup, Singapore’s first horse derby. In March of that year, he organized the Colony’s first rowing regatta. The Singapore Turf Club, the island’s home of horse racing, began as Read’s Singapore Sporting Club on 4 October 1842. His interest in educational and cultural life are evidenced by his involvement with the National Library (first treasurer), trusteeship of Singapore (later Raffles) Institution, and founding of the first Sailor’s Home (appointed Honorary Secretary).
Read was also active as a Freemason, being the second person to be initiated to the Masonic Lodge Zetland in the East and soon becoming its Worshipful Master. He eventually rose to become leader of the Freemasons' Eastern Archipelago, District Grand Lodge. He officiated over Masonic ceremonies which included the laying of the Foundation Stone of Raffles Lighthouse in 1854. One of Read’s last duties as a Singapore resident was laying the first cylinder of a bridge over the Singapore River – a bridge that today still bears his name, Read Bridge.
[edit] Return from the Colonies
William Read returned to Britain in February 1887. He had spent almost 46 years in Singapore. In 1901, Read published his memoirs "Play and Politics, Recollections of Malaya by an Old Resident". Read died on 10 May 1909, aged 91. In 1910, the Governor of Singapore unveiled a memorial tablet to the memory of William Henry Macleod Read in St. Andrew's Cathedral, for his outstanding contributions to Singapore. This tablet dedication can be still seen on the left side, behind the main entrance door of the church. William Read's imprint on the Straits Settlements also survived his passing through descendants in the local Eurasian community bearing his Read surname.
[edit] References
Play and politics recollections of Malaya by an old resident. (1901). London: W.Gardner Darton (Call no.: RRARE 959 503 REA)
Buckley, C. B. (1984). An anecdotal history of old times in Singapore: 1819-1867 (pp. 135, 367-369). Singapore: Oxford University Press. (Call no.: RSING 959.57 BUC)
Edwards, N. & Keys, P. (1988). Singapore: A guide to buildings, streets, places (p. 506). Singapore: Times Books International. (Call no.: RSING 959.57 EDW)
Freemasons. (1873). Ceremony of layaing the foundation stone of the Clyde Terrace Market, at Singapore, the 29th day of March 1873, by the Rt. Worshipful, the District Grand Master, W. H. Read [Microfilm: NL 5876]. Singapore: Straits Times Press. (Call no.: RSEA 959.51 FRE)
Turnbull, C. M. (1995). Dateline Singapore: 150 years of the Straits Times (pp. 22-35, 45-46). Singapore: Times Editions: Singapore Press Holdings (Call no.: RSING 079.5957 TUR)
Turnbull, C. M. (1972). The Straits Settlements 1826-1867: Indian presidency to crown colony (pp. 24-25, 321-322). London: Athlone Press (Call no.: RCLOS 959.57 TUR)
Tyers, R. K. (1993). Ray Tyers' Singapore: Then and now (p. 26). Singapore: Landmark Books. (Call no.: RSING 959.57 TYE)
[edit] Online Links
- ^ See article on Singapore Infopedia
- ^ http://www.lawnet.sabah.gov.my/viewdoc.asp?id=sabahlaws&title=Sabah_Laws&document=treaties/Treaties%20and%20Engagements%20(8).htm Sabah Attorney-General's website contains the entire document
