List of chief secretaries of Singapore

Last updated July 31, 2023

Resident councillors of Singapore (1826-1867)

The resident councillor of Singapore was a high ranking government civil position in colonial Singapore during the Straits Settlements era. It was second only to the governor of the Straits Settlements in the colonial government.

№	Portrait	Name (Born–Died)	Term of office		Origin	Background or previous appointment	Governor (From–To)
№	Portrait	Name (Born–Died)	Took office	Left office	Origin	Background or previous appointment	Governor (From–To)
1		John Prince (1772-1848)	15 August 1826	18 November 1827	—	—	Robert Fullerton (1826-1830)
2		Kenneth Murchison (1794–1854)	29 November 1827	6 December 1833	Scotland	Employee at East India Company	Robert Fullerton (1826-1830)
2		Kenneth Murchison (1794–1854)	29 November 1827	6 December 1833	Scotland	Employee at East India Company	Robert Ibbetson (1830-1833)
3		Sir Samuel George Bonham (1803–1863)	7 December 1833	18 November 1836	Kent, England	Employee at East India Company	Kenneth Murchison (1833-1836)
4		Thomas Church (1798–1860)	4 March 1837	20 September 1856	Somerset, England	Assistant Resident of Pinang	Samuel George Bonham (1836-1843)
							William John Butterworth (1843-1855)
							Edmund Augustus Blundell (1855-1859)
5		Henry Somerset MacKenzie (1826–1904) ^[1]^[2]	22 September 1856	13 July 1859 ^[3]	—	—	Edmund Augustus Blundell (1855-1859)
5		Henry Somerset MacKenzie (1826–1904) ^[1]^[2]	22 September 1856	13 July 1859 ^[3]	—	—	William Orfeur Cavenagh (1859-1867)
—		Colonel Ronald MacPherson (1817–1869)	10 March 1859 — 7 October 1860 As acting Resident Councillor		Island of Skye, Scotland	Resident Councillor of Malacca
6		Colonel Ronald MacPherson (1817–1869)	8 October 1860	31 March 1867	Island of Skye, Scotland	Resident Councillor of Malacca

Colonial secretaries of the Straits Settlements (1867–1942)

№	Portrait	Name (Born–Died)	Term of office		Origin	Background or previous appointment	Governor (From–To)
№	Portrait	Name (Born–Died)	Took office	Left office	Origin	Background or previous appointment	Governor (From–To)
1		Colonel Ronald MacPherson (1817–1869)	1 April 1867	6 December 1869 (Died in office)	Island of Skye, Scotland	Resident Councillor of Singapore	Sir Harry St. George Ord (1867-1871)
—		E W Shaw Acting^[4]	7 December 1869	5 June 1870	—	Colonial administrator
2		James Wheeler Woodford Birch (1826–1875)	6 June 1870	4 November 1874	—	Colonial administrator
							Edward Anson (1871-1872) 1st time Acting
							Sir Harry St. George Ord (1872-1873)
							Edward Anson (1873) 2nd time Acting
							Sir Andrew Clarke (1873-1875)
—		Thomas Braddell (1823–1891) Acting	4 November 1874	17 February 1876	County Wicklow, Ireland	Attorney-General of Singapore
		William Willans (d. 1905)^[5] Acting			—	Colonial Treasurer of Straits Settlements
		William Willans (d. 1905)^[5] Acting			—	Colonial Treasurer of Straits Settlements	Sir William Jervois (1875-1877)
		Charles John Irving (1831–1917) Acting			London, England	Auditor-General of Straits Settlements
3		Sir John Douglas (1836–1885)	17 February 1876	17 August 1878	Limerick, Ireland	Accountant General and Controller of Revenue
							Edward Anson (1877) 3rd time Acting
							Sir William Cleaver Francis Robinson (1877-1879)
4		Sir Cecil Clementi Smith (1840–1916)	3 September 1878	17 November 1885	London, England	Colonial Treasurer of Hong Kong	Sir William Cleaver Francis Robinson (1877-1879)
							Edward Anson (1879-1880) 4th time Acting
							Sir Frederick Weld (1880-1887)
5		Sir John Frederick Dickson (1835–1891)	17 November 1885 ^[6]	31 August 1891 ^[7]^[8]	—	Colonial administrator	Sir Frederick Weld (1880-1887)
5		Sir John Frederick Dickson (1835–1891)	17 November 1885 ^[6]	31 August 1891 ^[7]^[8]	—	Colonial administrator	Sir Cecil Clementi Smith (1887-1893)
—		Arthur Philip Talbot (b. 18?? – d. 19 December 1898)^[9] Acting	31 August 1891 ^[7]^[8]	9 March 1892 ^[10]	—	Colonial administrator
6		William Edward Maxwell (1846–1897)	9 March 1892 ^[10]	11 February 1895	—	British Resident of Selangor
							William Edward Maxwell (1893-1894) Acting
							Sir Charles Mitchell (1894-1899)
7		James Alexander Swettenham (1846–1933)	11 February 1895	7 December 1899	Derbyshire, England	Accountant General and Controller of Revenue	Sir Charles Mitchell (1894-1899)
—		Sir Walter Egerton (1858–1947) Acting	7 December 1899	5 July 1901	—	Colonial administrator	James Alexander Swettenham (1899-1901) Acting
—		Charles Walter Sneyd-Kynnersley (1849-1904) Acting	7 December 1899	5 July 1901	—	Colonial administrator	James Alexander Swettenham (1899-1901) Acting
8		Sir William Thomas Taylor (1848–1931)	5 July 1901	31 December 1904	—	Accountant General and Controller of Revenue	Sir Frank Swettenham (1901-1904)
8							Sir John Anderson (1904-1911)

9		Frederick George Penney (c. 1856–1928)	1 January 1905	13 April 1905	—	Resident Councillor of Malacca
—		Edward Lewis Brockman (1865–1943) Acting	13 April 1905	29 June 1906	—	Assistant Colonial Secretary of Straits Settlements
10		Sir Arthur Young (1854–1938)	29 June 1906	31 January 1911 ^[11]	—	Colonial administrator Navy officer
11		Edward Lewis Brockman (1865–1943)	1 February 1911 ^[11]	4 September 1911 ^[12]	—	Resident of Pahang
12		Richard James Wilkinson (1867–1941)	4 September 1911 ^[12]^[13]	February 1916	Salonika, Greece	British Resident at Negeri Sembilan	Sir Arthur Young (1911-1920)
—		William George Maxwell (1871–1959) Acting	February 1916 ^[14]	April 1916	Malacca, Straits Settlements	British Adviser for Kedah
13		Sir Frederick Seton James (1870–1934)	April 1916	19 March 1924	UK	Colonial administrator
13		Sir Frederick Seton James (1870–1934)	April 1916	19 March 1924	UK	Colonial administrator	Sir Laurence Guillemard (1920-1927)
—		George Hemmant (1880–1964) Acting 1st time Acting	19 March 1924	2 April 1924	—	Colonial administrator
14		Edward Shaw Hose (1871–1946)	2 April 1924	21 November 1925	Surrey, England	British Resident of Negri Sembilan
15		Sir Hayes Marriott (1873–1929)	21 November 1925	16 December 1928	—	General Adviser to Johore
15		Sir Hayes Marriott (1873–1929)	21 November 1925	16 December 1928	—	General Adviser to Johore	Sir Hugh Clifford (1927-1929)
—		George Hemmant (1880–1964) 2nd time Acting	16 December 1928	12 February 1929	—	Colonial administrator
16		Sir John Scott (1878–1946)	12 February 1929	23 May 1933	—	Chief Secretary of Tanganyika Territory
							Sir John Scott (1929-1930) Acting
							Sir Cecil Clementi (1930-1934)
17		Sir Andrew Caldecott (1884–1951)	23 May 1933	7 December 1935	Kent, England	Chief Secretary of Federated Malaya States (FMS)	Sir Cecil Clementi (1930-1934)
17		Sir Andrew Caldecott (1884–1951)	23 May 1933	7 December 1935	Kent, England	Chief Secretary of Federated Malaya States (FMS)	Sir Shenton Thomas (1934-1942) & (1945-1946)
18		Sir Alexander Sym Small (1887–1944)	7 December 1935	19 January 1940	North Lanarkshire, Scotland	Treasurer of Straits Settlements
19		Stanley Wilson Jones (1888–1962)	19 January 1940	27 January 1942	—	British Resident of Selangor
—		Hugh Fraser (1891–1944) Acting	27 January 1942	15 February 1942	—	Colonial administrator

Colonial Secretaries of Singapore (1946-1955)

№	Portrait	Name (Born–Died)	Term of office		Origin	Background or previous appointment	Governor (From–To)
№	Portrait	Name (Born–Died)	Took office	Left office	Origin	Background or previous appointment	Governor (From–To)
1		Sir Patrick Alexander Bruce McKerron (1896–1964)	1 April 1946	29 April 1950	Aberdeen, Scotland	Deputy Chief Civil Affairs Officer	Sir Franklin Charles Gimson (1946-1952)
—		J D M Smith Acting	29 April 1950 ^[15]	30 June 1950 ^[16]^[17]	—	Colonial administrator
		Wilfred Lawson Blythe (1896–1975)	30 June 1950	30 July 1953	—	Colonial administrator
2
							Wilfred Lawson Blythe (1952) Acting
							Sir John Fearns Nicoll (1952-1955)

3		William Allmond Codrington Goode (1907–1986)	30 July 1953	February 1955	Middlesex, England	Colonial administrator

Chief Secretaries of Singapore (1955-1959)

№	Portrait	Name (Born–Died)	Term of office		Origin	Background or previous appointment	Governor (From–To)
№	Portrait	Name (Born–Died)	Took office	Left office	Origin	Background or previous appointment	Governor (From–To)
1		William Allmond Codrington Goode (1907–1986)	February 1955	9 December 1957	Middlesex, England	Colonial Secretary of Singapore	William Goode (1955) Acting
1							Sir Robert Brown Black (1955-1957)
							William Goode (1957-1959)
2		Edgeworth Beresford David (1908–1965)	29 January 1958^[18]	2 June 1959	London, England	Colonial Secretary of Hong Kong	William Goode (1957-1959)

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References

↑ "Untitled". The Straits Times. 12 March 1859. p. 2.
↑ Corfield, Justin (2 December 2010). Historical Dictionary of Singapore. Scarecrow Press. p. 195. ISBN 9780810873872.
↑ "The Overland Singapore Free Press". Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser. 14 July 1859. p. 5.
↑ "Straits Settlement Government Gazette".
↑ "Legislative Council". The Straits Times. 8 May 1875. p. 2.
↑ "Death of Sir Frederick Dickson". The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser (Weekly). 29 December 1891. p. 1.
1 2 "Departure of Sir Frederick Dickson". The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser (Weekly). 1 September 1891. p. 6.
1 2 "Gazette Notifications". The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser (Weekly). 1 September 1891. p. 10.
↑ "Special Telegram". The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser. 14 January 1899. p. 2.
1 2 "Local and General". Straits Times Weekly Issue. 15 March 1892. p. 2.
1 2 "The Governor's Trip". The Straits Times. 31 January 1911. p. 7.
1 2 "Mr. and Mrs. Brockman". The Straits Times. 5 September 1911. p. 7.
↑ "No. 28527". The London Gazette . 1 September 1911. p. 6453.
↑ "Legislative Council Changes". The Straits Times. 11 February 1916. p. 8.
↑ "Mr. J.D.M. Smith". Malaya Tribune. 2 May 1950. p. 5.
↑ "Mr. Blythe Back For New Post". The Straits Times. 30 June 1950. p. 7.
↑ "Leaves Tomorrow". The Straits Times. 1 July 1950. p. 7.
↑ "Last Chief Secretary". Singapore Standard. 30 January 1958. p. 4.

External links

WorldStatesmen - Singapore
Historical Dictionary of Singapore (Justin Corfield) ISBN 9780810873872
Past and present leaders of Singapore

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[1] "Untitled". The Straits Times. 12 March 1859. p. 2.

[2] Corfield, Justin (2 December 2010). Historical Dictionary of Singapore. Scarecrow Press. p. 195. ISBN 9780810873872.

[3] "The Overland Singapore Free Press". Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser. 14 July 1859. p. 5.

[4] "Straits Settlement Government Gazette".

[5] "Legislative Council". The Straits Times. 8 May 1875. p. 2.

[6] "Death of Sir Frederick Dickson". The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser (Weekly). 29 December 1891. p. 1.

[frederick-7] 1 2 "Departure of Sir Frederick Dickson". The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser (Weekly). 1 September 1891. p. 6.

[frederick2-8] 1 2 "Gazette Notifications". The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser (Weekly). 1 September 1891. p. 10.

[9] "Special Telegram". The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser. 14 January 1899. p. 2.

[talbot-10] 1 2 "Local and General". Straits Times Weekly Issue. 15 March 1892. p. 2.

[Young2-11] 1 2 "The Governor's Trip". The Straits Times. 31 January 1911. p. 7.

[Brockman-12] 1 2 "Mr. and Mrs. Brockman". The Straits Times. 5 September 1911. p. 7.

[13] "No. 28527". The London Gazette . 1 September 1911. p. 6453.

[14] "Legislative Council Changes". The Straits Times. 11 February 1916. p. 8.

[15] "Mr. J.D.M. Smith". Malaya Tribune. 2 May 1950. p. 5.

[blythe1-16] "Mr. Blythe Back For New Post". The Straits Times. 30 June 1950. p. 7.

[17] "Leaves Tomorrow". The Straits Times. 1 July 1950. p. 7.

[18] "Last Chief Secretary". Singapore Standard. 30 January 1958. p. 4.

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Resident Councillors, Colonial Secretaries & Chief Secretaries of Singapore (1826 – 1959) (with italics * for the Acting)
Resident Councillors of Singapore (1826 – 1867)	John Prince Kenneth Murchison Samuel George Bonham Thomas Church Henry Somerset MacKenzie Ronald MacPherson
Colonial Secretaries of Straits Settlements (1867 – 1942)	Ronald MacPherson James W. W. Birch Thomas Braddell * William Willans * Charles John Irving * John Douglas Cecil Clementi Smith Sir John Frederick Dickson Arthur Philip Talbot * William Edward Maxwell James Alexander Swettenham Walter Egerton * Charles Walter Sneyd-Kynnersley * Sir William Thomas Taylor Frederick George Penney Edward Lewis Brockman * Sir Arthur Henderson Young Edward Lewis Brockman Richard James Wilkinson Sir Frederick Seton James George Hemmant * Edward Shaw Hose Sir Hayes Marriott George Hemmant * Sir John Scott Sir Andrew Caldecott Sir Alexander Sym Small Stanley Wilson Jones Hugh Fraser *
Colonial Secretaries of Singapore (1946 – 1955)	Sir Patrick McKerron J D M Smith * Wilfred Lawson Blythe William Allmond Codrington Goode
Chief Secretaries of Singapore (1955 – 1959)	Sir William Allmond Codrington Goode Edgeworth Beresford David