In 1887, the British High Commissioner in Malaya system was introduced. The post of a British High Commissioner is to represent the British Government as the Head Supreme for the British Protectorate in Malaya (Federated Malay States and Unfederated Malay States). However, in between 1887 until 1946, the British High Commissioner also represent the British Colony of Straits Settlements, and officially known as the Governor of the Straits Settlements, with official residence in Singapore, and known as the Government House (later Istana, the official residence for the Presidents of Singapore. There is also an official residence for the British High Commissioner in Malaya (also known as General-Resident), and known as the King's House (later renamed Carcosa Seri Negara), located inside the Perdana Lake Gardens in Kuala Lumpur. During the British rule in Malaya, the King's House served as an important place for royal dignitaries and distinguished guests.
When Malaya gained independence from the British government, the position of British High Commissioner in Malaya as effective head of state was replaced by the Supreme Head, or Yang Di-Pertuan Agong of Malaya, appointed by the rulers of the nine Malay states. The title British High Commissioner became that of the senior British diplomat in independent Malaya, (and later in Malaysia) as is normal between Commonwealth countries.
Name | Portrait | Enter office | Left office |
---|---|---|---|
Sir Cecil Clementi Smith | 20 October 1887 | 30 August 1893 | |
Sir William Edward Maxwell | 30 August 1893 | 31 January 1894 | |
Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Charles Bullen Hugh Mitchell | 1 February 1894 | 7 December 1899 | |
James Alexander Swettenham | 8 December 1899 | 18 February 1901 | |
Sir Frank Athelstane Swettenham | 26 September 1901 | 12 October 1901 | |
Sir John Anderson | 15 April 1904 | 9 April 1911 | |
Sir Arthur Henderson Young | 9 September 1911 | 24 August 1920 | |
Sir Laurence Nunns Guillemard | 3 February 1920 | 5 May 1927 | |
Sir Hugh Charles Clifford | 3 June 1927 | 20 October 1930 | |
Sir Cecil Clementi | 5 February 1930 | 16 February 1934 | |
Sir Shenton Whitelegge Thomas | 9 November 1934 | 15 August 1945 | |
Sir Gerard Edward James Gent | 1 February 1946 | 4 July 1948 | |
Sir Henry Lowell Goldsworthy Gurney | 1 October 1948 | 6 October 1951 | |
General Sir Gerald Walter Robert Templer | 15 January 1952 | 31 May 1954 | |
Sir Donald Charles MacGillivray | 31 May 1954 | 31 August 1957 |