RAFFLES, Sir TuoxAs STAMFORD, a distinguished traveler and naturalist, was the son of a captain in the West India trade, and was b. at sea, off port Morant in Jamaica, on July 5, 1781. His first appointment was to a clerkship in the East India house. Having attracted the notice of his superiors by his talents and industry, he received a permanent appointment in the office. In 1805 the court of directors determined on sending out an establishment to Penang or Prince of Wales' island, and young Raffles was appointed assistant-secretary. He arrived at Penang in September of the same year; and having studied the Malay language with great diligence during the voyage, he was enabled to enter upon his duties with efficiency on his arrival. Ile continued his study of the Malay and other eastern languages, in which he made considerable progress. Eventually Raffles was made principal secretary. In 1808 he made a voyage to Malacca, where he had the opportunity of mixing with Javanese, Amboynians, Borneans, Papuans, Cochin-Chinese, and Chinese proper. With respect to Malacca itself, he collected much interesting information. In 1811, when it was resolved by the English government to take possession of Java, then belonging to the Dutch, it was arranged that Mr. Raffles should accompany the expedition as secretary to the governor-general, lord Minto, who was himself to take the chief command. After some hard the troops took posses sion of the island. Mr. Raffles received the appointment of lieutenant-governor of Java and its dependencies; and, upon the departure of lord Minto, took upon himself the entire administration of the newly-acquired territory. Much had still to he done in the way of conciliating the native princes and chiefs to the British rule. He had to appoint British residents at several of the native courts, and to frame rules and regulations for their conduct. He ordered a general survey to be made of the whole island, the reading of which, as well as of all the refmrts connected with that and other things, occupied a considerable part of his time. By frequent personal interviews with the
natives also he sought to become acquainted with their manners and character, and to make such regulations as would be for their best interests, both morally and materially. While engaged in this career of usefulness his health gave way; and in 1816 he returned to England, stopping by the way at St. Helena. where he had an interview with Napoleon. On his arrival in England he wrote his well-known History of Java. published in two volumes 4to in 1817, in which year he received the honor of knighthood. _ Java having by this time been restored to the Dutch, sir Stamford Raffles was appointed lieutenant governor of Bencoolen, a settlement upon the coast of Sumatra, where he landet; in March, 1818. In the latter part of that year he was called to Calcutta, on a visit of business, and instead of returning directly to Bencoolen, was sent to form a new settle nient at Singapore. Here he remained for some months, and then agt. returned to Bencoolen, where he continued to discharge the duties of lieutenant-governor until Feb., 1824. when he was compelled by ill health to return to England. The vessel in which be set sail took fire, the crew and passengers with difficulty in the boats. By this accident sir Stamford Raffles lost the greatest part of his effects, including a fine collection of natural history, and other things. valued at about £20,000. After his arrival in England he lived to carry out what had been one of his favorite projects—namely. the formation of the zoological society of London, of which he was named president, and to the interests of which he devoted himself to the time of his death. This took -place on July 5,1826.