See also MALAYA
British presence in the Malaya peninsula started in 1786 when the H.E.I.C.
(Honorable East India Compagny) acquired the island of Pinang (Penang) from
the Sultans of Kedah. In the course of the 19th century British influence was
extended and by 1895 four Malay States - Perak and Selangor in 1874, Pahang
in 1887 and Negri Sembilan in 1895 - had accepted British protection. (1)
(1) Actually the member states of the new Negri Sembilan confederation
established in 1895 had separately accepted British protection in
the previous years (Sungei Ujong as first in 1874)
Although the states remained protectorates after the formation of
the federation, they actually came under direct rule for most of
their affairs, the major exception being religious matters.
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BRITISH REPRESENTATIVES AND ADMINISTRATORS
Until 1936 the real heads of the Federation were first the General Residents
and then their successors, the Chief Secretaries of the Federation.
After 1936 the Federal Secretaries were no more than coordinating officers,
under the authority of the High Commissioner.
High Commissioners
1896 - 1942 The Governors of the Straits Settlements
General Residents
1896 - 1901 Sir (1897) Frank Athelstane
Swettenham 1850 - 1946
1901 - 1904 Sir William Hood Treacher 1849 - 1919
1904 - 1910 Sir William Thomas Taylor 1850 - 1931
1910 - 1911 Arthur Henderson Young 1854 - 1938
Chief Secretaries
1911 - 1920 Edward Lewis Brockman 1865 - 1943
1920 - 1926 Sir (1924) William George
Maxwell 1871 - 1959
1926 - 1930 William Peel 1875 - 1945
1930 - 1932 Charles Walter Hamilton
Cochrane 1873 - 1932
1932 - 1934 Andrew Caldecott 1884 - 1951
1934 - 1935 Malcolm Bond Shelley 1879 - 1968
1935 - 1936 Marcus Rex 1886 - 1971
Federal Secretaries
1936 - 1939 Christopher Dominic Ahearne 1886 - 1964
1939 - 1942 Hugh Fraser
In 1942 the Straits Settlements were occupied by Japanese troops. In 1945,
after the return of the British, the federation was not restored.
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