William Henry Macleod Read
Encyclopedia
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
and the Malay states between 1841 and 1887.
, son of Christopher Rideout Read, co-partner of A. L. Johnston & Company. At twenty two years of age he traveled to Singapore to take his father's place at A. L. Johnston & Company, Singapore's leading merchant company at that time, his father retiring and returning to England the following year (1842). Alexander Laurie Johnston, his father’s co-partner, retired and left Singapore in December. Read headed the company until his own retirement in 1887.
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. An announcement in the London Gazette noted,
, 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
.
Municipal Assessment Funds
In January 1845, at a public meeting, Read put forward a motion proposing that municipal assessment funds (see Act XIII of 1839 allowing for an assessment fund to be used for municipal purposes) be controlled by one person appointed by government and two persons appointed by ratepayers. The motion was carried by a large majority. However a new bill was passed (Act IX of 1848 that provided for two officials and three non-officials, all nominated by the Governor to administer the funds.
Legislative Council of the Straits Settlements
Read was made a member of the Legislative Council of the Straits Settlements by Royal appointment. A notice in the London Gazette, reads,
and again
Freemasons
On 27 September 1878 a land grant was issued in favour of R. W. Bro. William Henry Macleod Read, District Grand Master, and his successors in office for the use of Masons under the United Grand Lodge of Antient, Free and Accepted Masons of England. Read laid the foundation stone for the new building on 14 April 1879. The new hall was consecrated on 27 December 1879 by the District Grand Master, Read, Thomas Cargill, the civil engineer who designed the building, was installed as Master of Lodge Zetland-in-the-East. Read was eventually succeeded in his role as District Grand Master by Major Samuel Dunlop
in 1885.
The Singapore Turf Club
The Singapore Turf Club, formerly known as the Singapore Sporting Club, was founded by Scottish William Henry Macleod Read on 4 October 1842. Marking the 24th anniversary of the founding of Singapore by Sir Stamford Raffles, the first races were held on 23 February and 25 February 1843. Read himself won the first Derby, called the Singapore Cup, and took home the prize money of $150.
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.
Online Links
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...
and the Malay states between 1841 and 1887.
Early life
William H. M. Read was born in ScotlandScotland
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...
, son of Christopher Rideout Read, co-partner of A. L. Johnston & Company. At twenty two years of age he traveled to Singapore to take his father's place at A. L. Johnston & Company, Singapore's leading merchant company at that time, his father retiring and returning to England the following year (1842). Alexander Laurie Johnston, his father’s co-partner, retired and left Singapore in December. Read headed the company until his own retirement in 1887.
Political, Commercial and Social Contributions to Early Colonial Singapore
William Read was appointed Special Constable to deal with ethnic riots between the Colony’s HokkienHoklo people
The Hoklo people are Han Chinese people whose traditional Ancestral homes are in southern Fujian of South China...
and Cantonese
Cantonese people
The Cantonese people are Han people whose ancestral homes are in Guangdong, China. The term "Cantonese people" would then be synonymous with the Bun Dei sub-ethnic group, and is sometimes known as Gwong Fu Jan for this narrower definition...
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
Order of the Dutch Lion
The Order of the Netherlands Lion is an order of the Netherlands which was first created on 29 September 1815 by King William I of the Netherlands....
(Knight Commander). By 1865, Read was Chairman of the Singapore Chamber of Commerce. During his tenure in the then British Straits Settlement
Straits Settlements
The Straits Settlements were a group of British territories located in Southeast Asia.Originally established in 1826 as part of the territories controlled by the British East India Company, the Straits Settlements came under direct British control as a crown colony on 1 April 1867...
, 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.)
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
, by Queen Victoria. An announcement in the London Gazette noted,
Chancery of the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Downing Street, February 3, 1885. THE Queen has been graciously pleased to give directions for the following appointment to the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George : To be an Ordinary Member of the Third Class, of Companions of the said Most Distinguished Order :— William Henry Macleod Read, Esq., for long and valuable services rendered in the Straits Settlements.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
British North Borneo Company
The North Borneo Chartered Company or British North Borneo Company was a chartered company assigned to administer North Borneo in August 1881. North Borneo became a protectorate of the British Empire with internal affairs administered by the company until 1946 when it became the colony of British...
, lists merchant William Henry Macleod Read, of 25 Durham Terrace, in the Country of Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time...
, 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
Singapore Turf Club
The Singapore Turf Club was founded in 1842 as the Singapore Sporting Club to operate the Serangoon Road Race Course at Farrer Park.It is today the only horse-racing club in Singapore and is part of the Malayan Racing Association, which also regulates the three Turf Clubs in Malaysia, the Selangor...
, 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
National Library Board
The National Library Board is a statutory board of the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts, Singapore...
(first treasurer), trusteeship of Singapore (later Raffles) Institution
Raffles Institution
Raffles Institution , founded in 1823, is the oldest centre for pre-tertiary learning in Singapore. It is an independent school in Singapore providing secondary and pre-university education. RI consists of a boys-only secondary section , and a coeducational pre-university section...
, 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
Pulau Satumu
Pulau Satumu is a small island to the south of the main Singapore island, and the southernmost island of Singapore. The Raffles Lighthouse is located on the island. The island's name means "One Tree" in the Malay Language....
. 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
Read Bridge
Read Bridge is a beam-structured bridge located at Clarke Quay within the Singapore River Planning Area in Singapore. The bridge crosses the Singapore River linking Clarke Quay to Swissôtel Merchant Court. The bridge was built in 1881 and completed in 1889...
.
Municipal Assessment Funds
In January 1845, at a public meeting, Read put forward a motion proposing that municipal assessment funds (see Act XIII of 1839 allowing for an assessment fund to be used for municipal purposes) be controlled by one person appointed by government and two persons appointed by ratepayers. The motion was carried by a large majority. However a new bill was passed (Act IX of 1848 that provided for two officials and three non-officials, all nominated by the Governor to administer the funds.
Legislative Council of the Straits Settlements
Read was made a member of the Legislative Council of the Straits Settlements by Royal appointment. A notice in the London Gazette, reads,
Downing Street, May 18, 1882. THE Queen has been pleased to appoint George Macfarlane Sandilands, Esq., and William Henry Macleod Read, Esq., to be Members of the Legislative Council of the Straits Settlements.
and again
"Downing Street, March 17, 1868. The Queen has been pleased to appoint William Henry Macleod Read, Forbes Scott Brown, Thomas Scott, and Robert Little, Esqrs., to be Members of. the Legislative Council of the Straits Settlements ; and William Bagnell, Alfred James Harrigan,. and Henry Stephens Harrigan, Esqrs., to be Members of the Legislative Council of the Virgin Islands."
Freemasons
On 27 September 1878 a land grant was issued in favour of R. W. Bro. William Henry Macleod Read, District Grand Master, and his successors in office for the use of Masons under the United Grand Lodge of Antient, Free and Accepted Masons of England. Read laid the foundation stone for the new building on 14 April 1879. The new hall was consecrated on 27 December 1879 by the District Grand Master, Read, Thomas Cargill, the civil engineer who designed the building, was installed as Master of Lodge Zetland-in-the-East. Read was eventually succeeded in his role as District Grand Master by Major Samuel 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:...
in 1885.
The Singapore Turf Club
The Singapore Turf Club, formerly known as the Singapore Sporting Club, was founded by Scottish William Henry Macleod Read on 4 October 1842. Marking the 24th anniversary of the founding of Singapore by Sir Stamford Raffles, the first races were held on 23 February and 25 February 1843. Read himself won the first Derby, called the Singapore Cup, and took home the prize money of $150.
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.
Online Links