Singapore
Stamford Raffles founded colonial Singapore in 1819 as a trading post of the British East India Company. After the company's collapse in 1858, the islands were ceded to the British Raj as a crown colony. During the Second World War, Singapore was occupied by Japan. It gained independence from the UK in 1963 by federating with other former British territories to form Malaysia, but separated two years later over ideological differences, becoming a sovereign nation in 1965. After early years of turbulence and despite lacking natural resources and a hinterland, the nation developed rapidly as an Asian Tiger economy, based on external trade and its workforce.
Chief Secretary, Singapore
The Straits Settlements, which mainly comprised Singapore, Penang and Malacca, became a crown colony in 1867. The position of the Colonial Secretary (CS) was subsequently created with a view to replacing the Resident Councillor in Singapore. During the Second World War, the position was vacant and suspended following the downfall of the Malay Peninsula into the hands of the Japanese invaders. In 1946, Singapore parted from Penang and Malacca, forming itself into a crown colony, so the jurisdiction of CS was reduced to Singapore only. The name "Colonial Secretary" was later changed to "Chief Secretary" in 1955 when the crown colony adopted the Rendel Constitution. Having been in existence for 92 years, the position was abolished in 1959 with the complete introduction of internal self-rule for Singapore.