This lecture series is organized by the National Library Board Singapore, in collaboration with the Journal of Southeast Asian Studies, Department of History and Asia Research Institute at the National University of Singapore.
ABSTRACT
The founding of the British trading post on Singapore in 1819 elicited immediate reactions from the Dutch authorities in Melaka, Riau and Batavia. The Dutch consistently argued that the trading post was a provocation and violated the rights of the sultan of Johor-Riau. They made the “Singapore Question” the lynchpin of subsequent Anglo-Dutch negotiations, and in December 1823, much to the surprise of the Dutch, the British offered financial compensation for Singapore. And so, the question emerges: Did the British ultimately “buy” Singapore from the Dutch?
SPEAKER
Associate Professor Peter Borschberg teaches history at the National University of Singapore. His research interests include Southeast Asia in the early modern period as well as legal history.
CHAIRPERSON
Kwa Chong Guan is a Senior Fellow at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies at Nanyang Technological University and an Adjunct Associate Professor (Hon) at the NUS Department of History.
REGISTRATION
Free admission. Please register your interest to attend at this link: https://www.nlb.gov.sg/golibrary2/e/histories-series-the-mystery-of-article-12-of-the-1824-anglo-dutch-treaty-96879344
HISTORIES SERIES
This series highlights research on historical and related matters in Singapore and Southeast Asia, creating an appreciation of the role of humanities and social sciences research in contemporary society.
