Straits Settlements In 1826, the East India Company united the settlements of Singapore, Malacca and Penang to form the Presidency of the Straits Settlements. This presidency was abolished in 1830, and the Straits Settlements became a residency. It was dependent on the Presidency of Bengal, under the governor- general of India. In 1851, the Straits Settlements were removed from the Bengal presidency and brought directly under the governor- general. When the East India Company was abolished in 1858, the administration of India was transferred to the British Crown. The Straits Settlements continued to be ruled from Calcutta. However, the Indian government there was too far away from and unfamiliar with conditions in the settlements. It failed to understand and respond quickly to the needs of the local population. The Straits Settlements agitated for a transfer to the Colonial Office.

In 1863, a commission was appointed to investigate the matter. Sir Hercules Robinson, the principal member of the commission, advocated the transfer. Negotiations went on until 2 June 1866, before the India Office, War Office and Treasury all agreed to it.

On 1 April 1867, the Straits Settlements became a British Crown Colony, making the settlements directly answerable to the Colonial Office in London instead of the Calcutta government in India. Earlier, on 4 February, a ‘Letters Patent’ had granted the settlements a colonial constitution. This allocated much power to the settlements’ governor (see governors).

Additional territories became part of the Straits Settlements colony over the years— the Dindings area of Perak (1874– 1934), Labuan (1906– 46), the Cocos Keeling islands (1886– 1955), and Christmas Island (1900– 58). Singapore was the centre of government, commerce and policy- making. The first colonial governor appointed by the Crown was Colonel Sir Harry Ord. He ruled with an Executive and a Legislative Council.

World War II brought the Straits Settlements to an end. After the end of the Japanese Occupation, Singapore and Malaya came under British Military Administration. This lasted until April 1946, when Malacca, Penang and the peninsular Malay States were incorporated into a Malayan Union that became the Federation of Malaya in 1948. Singapore remained a separate colony.