Horsburgh lighthouse
Encyclopedia
The Horsburgh Lighthouse (Chinese: 霍士堡灯塔; ) is a lighthouse
which marks the eastern entrance to the Straits of Singapore. It is situated on Pedra Branca island. Singapore
's earliest lighthouse by date of completion, it is located approximately 54 kilometres to the east of Singapore and 14 km from the Malaysian state of Johor.
James Horsburgh
(September 28, 1762 – May 14, 1836), a Scottish
hydrographer from the East India Company
, who mapped many seaway
s around Singapore in the late 18th century and early 19th century. He was called "The Nautical Oracle of the World". His charts and books allowed ships to navigate through treacherous areas of the ocean, saving many lives and property on the seas between China
and India
. On the wall of the visitors room of the lighthouse there is the following memorial:
A.D. 1851
which in translation reads:
The Horsburgh Lighthouse is raised by the British enterprise of British Merchants, and by the liberal aid of the East India Company, to lessen the dangers of navigation, and likewise to hand down, so long as it shall last, in the scene of his useful labours.
To the Memory of the Great Hydrographer whose name it bears.
Col. W. J. Butterworth, c.b.
Governor in the Straits of Malacca.
of rocks that for centuries was identified on maps as Pedra Branca (white rocks in Portuguese
). It was built by John Turnbull Thomson
(1821–1884), a government surveyor. In the presence of Governor William John Butterworth and other dignitaries, the lighthouse foundation stone was laid on May 24, 1850 and the lighthouse was completed in 1851. The lighthouse is also known as Pedra Branca Lighthouse.
Lighthouse
A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or, in older times, from a fire, and used as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways....
which marks the eastern entrance to the Straits of Singapore. It is situated on Pedra Branca island. Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
's earliest lighthouse by date of completion, it is located approximately 54 kilometres to the east of Singapore and 14 km from the Malaysian state of Johor.
History
The Horsburgh Lighthouse was named after CaptainCaptain (nautical)
A sea captain is a licensed mariner in ultimate command of the vessel. The captain is responsible for its safe and efficient operation, including cargo operations, navigation, crew management and ensuring that the vessel complies with local and international laws, as well as company and flag...
James Horsburgh
James Horsburgh
James Horsburgh was a Scottish hydrographer. He worked for East India Company, who mapped many seaways around Singapore in the late 18th century and early 19th century....
(September 28, 1762 – May 14, 1836), a Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
hydrographer from the East India Company
British East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
, who mapped many seaway
Seaway
Seaway is a Canadian drama series that aired on CBC from 1965 to 1966. The series was a Seaway Films production in collaboration with the UK's ATV, with production money provided by the CBC...
s around Singapore in the late 18th century and early 19th century. He was called "The Nautical Oracle of the World". His charts and books allowed ships to navigate through treacherous areas of the ocean, saving many lives and property on the seas between China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and India
Greater India
Greater India is a term that refers to the historical spread of the culture of India beyond the Indian subcontinent...
. On the wall of the visitors room of the lighthouse there is the following memorial:
A.D. 1851
which in translation reads:
The Horsburgh Lighthouse is raised by the British enterprise of British Merchants, and by the liberal aid of the East India Company, to lessen the dangers of navigation, and likewise to hand down, so long as it shall last, in the scene of his useful labours.
To the Memory of the Great Hydrographer whose name it bears.
Col. W. J. Butterworth, c.b.
Governor in the Straits of Malacca.
Location
The lighthouse was built over an outcropOutcrop
An outcrop is a visible exposure of bedrock or ancient superficial deposits on the surface of the Earth. -Features:Outcrops do not cover the majority of the Earth's land surface because in most places the bedrock or superficial deposits are covered by a mantle of soil and vegetation and cannot be...
of rocks that for centuries was identified on maps as Pedra Branca (white rocks in Portuguese
Portuguese language
Portuguese is a Romance language that arose in the medieval Kingdom of Galicia, nowadays Galicia and Northern Portugal. The southern part of the Kingdom of Galicia became independent as the County of Portugal in 1095...
). It was built by John Turnbull Thomson
John Turnbull Thomson
John Turnbull Thomson was a British civil engineer and artist who played an instrumental role in the development of the early infrastructure of nineteenth century Singapore and New Zealand. -Biography:...
(1821–1884), a government surveyor. In the presence of Governor William John Butterworth and other dignitaries, the lighthouse foundation stone was laid on May 24, 1850 and the lighthouse was completed in 1851. The lighthouse is also known as Pedra Branca Lighthouse.