List of High Commissioners of the United Kingdom to Malaya

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.

List of British High Commissioners in Malaya

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