Straits Settlements

Straits Settlements
1826–1946
Anthem: "God Save the King"
(1826–1837; 1901–1942; 1945–1946)
"God Save the Queen" (1837–1901)
Malaya in 1922:
  Unfederated Malay States: Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Perlis, Terengganu
  Federated Malay States: Negeri Sembilan, Selangor, Pahang, Perak
  Straits Settlements: Malacca, Penang, Singapore, Dinding
Status
CapitalGeorge Town
(1826–1832)[1]
Singapore
(1832–1946)[2]
Official languagesEnglish
Common languages
GovernmentMonarchy
Monarch 
• 1826–1830 (first)
George IV
• 1936–1946 (last)
George VI
Governor 
• 1826–1830 (first)
Robert Fullerton
• 1934–1946 (last)
Shenton Thomas
Historical eraBritish Empire
17 March 1824
• Established under East India Co. rule
1826
• Converted to Crown colony
1 April 1867
• Labuan incorporated
1 January 1907
8 December 1941
15 February 1942
• Formal surrender by Japan to British Military Administration
12 September 1945
• Federated into the Malayan Union and the Colony of Singapore
1 April 1946
15 July 1946
CurrencyStraits dollar (1898–1939)
Malayan dollar (1939–1946)
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Kedah Sultanate
Founding years of modern Singapore
Dutch Malacca
Dindings
Johor Sultanate
Perak Sultanate
Malayan Union
Colony of Singapore
Colony of Malacca
Colony of Penang
Bengal Presidency
Sultanate of Perak
Today part ofMalaysia
Australia
Singapore

The Straits Settlements were a group of British territories located in Southeast Asia. Originally established in 1826 as part of the territories controlled by the British East India Company, the Straits Settlements came under control of the British Raj in 1858 and then under direct British control as a Crown colony in 1867. In 1946, following the end of World War II and the Japanese occupation, the colony was dissolved as part of Britain's reorganisation of its Southeast Asian dependencies in the area.

The Straits Settlements originally consisted of the four individual settlements of Penang, Singapore, Malacca, and Dinding. Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands were added in 1886. The island of Labuan, off the coast of Borneo, was also incorporated into the colony with effect from 1 January 1907, becoming a separate settlement within it in 1912. Most of the territories now form part of Malaysia, from which Singapore separated in 1965. The Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Christmas Island were transferred from Singapore to Australian control in 1955 and 1958 respectively. Their administrations were combined in 1996 to form the Australian Indian Ocean Territories.