Penang History
History of Penang
Written by Administrator III Sunday, 14 September 2008 15:26 - Last Updated Wednesday, 15 December 2010 03:59
In the early 16th century, Portuguese traders have been sailing to the Far East searching for spices. They came across a small uninhabited island where they could replenish fresh water supplies, which they then named it “Pulo Pinaom”.
The island was part of the Kedah Sultanate. Its strategic location at the northern entry to the Straits of Malacca has made it a natural harbour during the monsoon months for Arabian, Chinese, European and Indian ships. Inevitably, it became a hunting ground for pirates.
Since the 17th century, Kedah have been sending “Bunga Emas” (Gold Flowers) to Siam (Thailand) as an acknowledgement of the Siam King’s sovereignty. In the 18th century, the spice and opium trade between the East and West had become extremely lucrative. The Dutch dominated the Far East spice trade and the British too needed to establish themselves in the region. Thus, in 1765 Francis Light was instructed by his Company, Jourdain Sullivan and de Souza to establish better trade relations in this part of the world.
In 1771, the Sultan of Kedah offered Captain Francis Light the island of Penang in return for protection from the Siamese and Burmese armies who were constantly threatening Kedah. This treaty never materialised as Francis Light's superiors refused to offer any aid.
Captain Francis Light left Kedah for Junk Ceylon (Phuket, an island off southern Thailand) in 1772 to setup trade activities with India, southern Siam and northern Malay Peninsula. At that time, the British were involved in the Napolean war in Europe. Light was asked by the East India Company based in Madras to obtain Pulau Pinang to setup a base to repair British navy ships and as a trading post for trade between China, India and the archipelago.
In 1786, Francis Light acted as middleman in securing Penang from Sultan Abdullah of Kedah in return for a
Written by Administrator III Sunday, 14 September 2008 15:26 - Last Updated Wednesday, 15 December 2010 03:59
In the early 16th century, Portuguese traders have been sailing to the Far East searching for spices. They came across a small uninhabited island where they could replenish fresh water supplies, which they then named it “Pulo Pinaom”.
The island was part of the Kedah Sultanate. Its strategic location at the northern entry to the Straits of Malacca has made it a natural harbour during the monsoon months for Arabian, Chinese, European and Indian ships. Inevitably, it became a hunting ground for pirates.
Since the 17th century, Kedah have been sending “Bunga Emas” (Gold Flowers) to Siam (Thailand) as an acknowledgement of the Siam King’s sovereignty. In the 18th century, the spice and opium trade between the East and West had become extremely lucrative. The Dutch dominated the Far East spice trade and the British too needed to establish themselves in the region. Thus, in 1765 Francis Light was instructed by his Company, Jourdain Sullivan and de Souza to establish better trade relations in this part of the world.
In 1771, the Sultan of Kedah offered Captain Francis Light the island of Penang in return for protection from the Siamese and Burmese armies who were constantly threatening Kedah. This treaty never materialised as Francis Light's superiors refused to offer any aid.
Captain Francis Light left Kedah for Junk Ceylon (Phuket, an island off southern Thailand) in 1772 to setup trade activities with India, southern Siam and northern Malay Peninsula. At that time, the British were involved in the Napolean war in Europe. Light was asked by the East India Company based in Madras to obtain Pulau Pinang to setup a base to repair British navy ships and as a trading post for trade between China, India and the archipelago.
In 1786, Francis Light acted as middleman in securing Penang from Sultan Abdullah of Kedah in return for a