William A. Pickering
Encyclopedia
William A. Pickering was the first Protector appointed (in 1877) by the British government to administer the Chinese Protectorate
in colonial Singapore
. He was the first European official in Singapore who could speak fluent Mandarin and Hokkien
and gained the trust of many of the Singapore Chinese. His efforts went a long way towards controlling the problems posed by the secret societies
then. Pickering Street in Singapore's Chinatown
is named after him.
. He could therefore speak many Chinese dialects such as Cantonese, Hakka, Hokkien, Foochew, Teochew, and Mandarin itself.
, who was back in London on leave, came across William Pickering. Ord was pleasantly surprised by Pickering's fluency in essential Chinese dialects. The British Government in Singapore had been having trouble communicating with the Chinese during that time, as most officials were ignorant of Chinese culture and language. This had caused many Chinese to join secret societies in Singapore, resulting in turf wars and other disturbances that threatened the stability of the settlement. Ord thus recognised the need for an official who could communicate with the Chinese and hired Pickering on the spot. In January 1872, Pickering departed for Singapore.
wished to gather together the heads of both secret societies together for a peace conference he first sent Pickering up to Penang. Pickering was to behave as if he were acting on his own responsibility. The seeds of peace thus informally sowed, Clarke could then officially invite the parties to peace talks together. Around 9 January 1874, together with McNair
and Dunlop
, Pickering met with Capitan China Chung Keng Quee
a person of considerable influence with the Hai San secret society. (Here for more about Pickering's role in the ending of the Larut Wars.)
In a dramatic incident in 1887, Pickering was attacked by a Teochew carpenter, Chua Ah Siok, who was sent by one of the secret societies, the Ghee Hok Society, to kill him in retaliation for Pickering's constant meddling in business. Chua coolly walked up to Pickering's desk and threw an axe at him. The butt end of the axe blade struck Pickering on the forehead, causing serious injury, but Pickering survived.
Previously, Pickering had worked in the Chinese Imperial Maritime Customs in Fuzhou
and Taiwan
, and wrote an account of his time in Taiwan called Pioneering in Formosa.
Pickering retired as Protector in 1889, due to complications from the attack by Chua, and died on 26 January 1907.
by the British in Malacca
to aid a British ally. He successfully commanded 160 troops in 1874 to remove possible resistance leader in Sungai Ujong.
Chinese Protectorate
The Chinese Protectorate was an administrative body responsible for the well-being of ethnic Chinese residents of the Straits Settlements during that territory's British colonial period. Protectorates were established in each area of the Settlements, namely Singapore, Penang and Malacca. Each was...
in colonial 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...
. He was the first European official in Singapore who could speak fluent Mandarin and Hokkien
Min Nan
The Southern Min languages, or Min Nan , are a family of Chinese languages spoken in southern Fujian, eastern Guangdong, Hainan, Taiwan, and southern Zhejiang provinces of China, and by descendants of emigrants from these areas in diaspora....
and gained the trust of many of the Singapore Chinese. His efforts went a long way towards controlling the problems posed by the secret societies
Secret societies in Singapore
Secret societies in Singapore are generally Chinese in origin. They have been largely eradicated as a security issue in the city state. However many smaller groups remain today which attempt to mimic societies of the past...
then. Pickering Street in Singapore's Chinatown
Chinatown, Singapore
Singapore's Chinatown is an ethnic neighbourhood featuring distinctly Chinese cultural elements and a historically concentrated ethnic Chinese population. Chinatown is located within the larger district of Outram....
is named after him.
Background
Before becoming the Chinese Protector, William Pickering had previously served a 10-year term in Hong Kong's Chinese Maritime Customs ServiceChinese Maritime Customs Service
The Chinese Maritime Customs Service was a Chinese governmental tax collection agency and information service from its founding in 1854 until its bifurcation in 1949 into services operating in the Republic of China on Taiwan, and in the People's Republic of China...
. He could therefore speak many Chinese dialects such as Cantonese, Hakka, Hokkien, Foochew, Teochew, and Mandarin itself.
Departing to Singapore
In 1871, Singapore's Governor Sir Harry OrdHarry Ord
Major-General Sir Harry St. George Ord GCMG, CB, RE, was born on 4 August 1819 in North Cray, Kent, England. He was the son of Henry Gough Ord and grandson of Craven Ord of Greenstead Hall, Essex, a prominent antiquarian.-Education and career:...
, who was back in London on leave, came across William Pickering. Ord was pleasantly surprised by Pickering's fluency in essential Chinese dialects. The British Government in Singapore had been having trouble communicating with the Chinese during that time, as most officials were ignorant of Chinese culture and language. This had caused many Chinese to join secret societies in Singapore, resulting in turf wars and other disturbances that threatened the stability of the settlement. Ord thus recognised the need for an official who could communicate with the Chinese and hired Pickering on the spot. In January 1872, Pickering departed for Singapore.
Arriving in Singapore
Once in Singapore, Pickering was appalled at how Chinese dialect translations of European officials referred to judges as "demons", police as "big dogs" and Europeans in general as "red-haired demons". There were also 'post office riots' between the Hokkiens and Teochews over who had the right to send money and letters back to China. An unusual technique he employed to quell the riots was to walk up and down the streets playing his bagpipes . This unusual sight often subdued the Chinese onlookers. Pickering, with his command of dialects, would then help to sort out the differences.Larut Wars
Pickering played a part in putting an end to the incessant troubles between the Ghee Hin and Hai San who had engaged in open warfare over the tin fields at Larut since 1861. When Sir Andrew ClarkeAndrew Clarke (administrator)
Lieutenant-General Sir Andrew Clarke, GCMG, CB, CIE was a British soldier and governor as well as a politician in Australia.-Background and education:...
wished to gather together the heads of both secret societies together for a peace conference he first sent Pickering up to Penang. Pickering was to behave as if he were acting on his own responsibility. The seeds of peace thus informally sowed, Clarke could then officially invite the parties to peace talks together. Around 9 January 1874, together with McNair
John Frederick Adolphus McNair
John Frederick Adolphus McNair -Career:McNair was educated at King's College London and at the School of Mines. He was a multi-talented civil servant in the service of the Straits Settlements...
and Dunlop
Samuel Dunlop
Samuel Dunlop, CMG served in several capacities as a member of the Straits Settlements civil service but is perhaps best known as the Inspector-General of Police, in Singapore.-Pangkor Treaty 1874:...
, Pickering met with Capitan China Chung Keng Quee
Chung Keng Quee
Kapitan China Chung Keng Quee was the founder and administrator of modern Taiping. He was a millionaire philanthropist and known as an innovator in the mining of tin. He was involved in many other industries including farming, pawnbroking and logging. He was respected by both Chinese and European...
a person of considerable influence with the Hai San secret society. (Here for more about Pickering's role in the ending of the Larut Wars.)
Chinese Protector
In 1876, an official British report into secret society activities was published. One recommendation in this report was that every coolie-to-be who arrived at Boat Quay should first encounter a British official who could speak his language and let the immigrant know that "there was an officer of the Government whose special duty is to protect and befriend him". In May 1877, William Pickering was appointed for this job under the title of "Protector". His office was located in a small shophouse along North Canal Road known as the Chinese Protectorate.In a dramatic incident in 1887, Pickering was attacked by a Teochew carpenter, Chua Ah Siok, who was sent by one of the secret societies, the Ghee Hok Society, to kill him in retaliation for Pickering's constant meddling in business. Chua coolly walked up to Pickering's desk and threw an axe at him. The butt end of the axe blade struck Pickering on the forehead, causing serious injury, but Pickering survived.
Previously, Pickering had worked in the Chinese Imperial Maritime Customs in Fuzhou
Fuzhou
Fuzhou is the capital and one of the largest cities in Fujian Province, People's Republic of China. Along with the many counties of Ningde, those of Fuzhou are considered to constitute the Mindong linguistic and cultural area....
and Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
, and wrote an account of his time in Taiwan called Pioneering in Formosa.
Pickering retired as Protector in 1889, due to complications from the attack by Chua, and died on 26 January 1907.
Assignment in Negeri Sembilan
Pickering was sent to Sungai Ujong, Negeri SembilanNegeri Sembilan
Negeri Sembilan, one of the 13 states that constitutes Malaysia, lies on the western coast of Peninsular Malaysia, just south of Kuala Lumpur and borders Selangor on the north, Pahang in the east, and Malacca and Johor to the south....
by the British in Malacca
Malacca
Malacca , dubbed The Historic State or Negeri Bersejarah among locals) is the third smallest Malaysian state, after Perlis and Penang. It is located in the southern region of the Malay Peninsula, on the Straits of Malacca. It borders Negeri Sembilan to the north and the state of Johor to the south...
to aid a British ally. He successfully commanded 160 troops in 1874 to remove possible resistance leader in Sungai Ujong.