The birth of Sir Stamford Raffles

Raffles, Thomas Stamford, Sir, (b. 6 July 1781, off Port Morant, Jamaica - d. 5 July 1826, Middlesex, England), founder of Singapore island, was born at sea off Jamaica on 6 July 1781 on board the West Indiaman Ann. The Ann was the ship captained by his father, Benjamin Raffles. His full name at birth was Thomas Stamford Bingley Raffles, where each name had significance to people who had influence over him or his family.Although the ship Ann had been at anchor at Port Morant, Jamaica for some days, Anne Lyde, Benjamin Raffles' wife, gave birth only the day after the ship had pulled out of port. Raffles was thus born at sea on 6 July 1781 or 5 July if taken by sea reckoning which calculates a full day from noon to noon rather than midnight to midnight. The baby was named Thomas Stamford Bingley Raffles at a christening ceremony on board the ship Ann, naming Stamford of Jamaica and Bingley of London as the child's godfathers. But he was rechristened Thomas Raffles by his uncle, the Rev John Linderman on 4 July 1784 at Eaton Bishop, Herefordshire, during a combined christening with his sister Harriet who was born in 1783. The Rev Lindemann was the brother-in-law of Anne Lyde. Raffles was the only surviving son of Benjamin Raffles.The name "Thomas" was a reference to his grandfather (d. 1784) who had been a clerk for at least 40 years at the Prerogative Office, Doctors' Commons. Raffles never used the name "Bingley", denying that Thomas Bingley had ever been his godfather although historians believe the wealthy Bingley had financially assisted the family during Raffles' cash-strapped childhood years. "Stamford" remains a shadowy figure although a Thomas Stamford has been identified - a merchant who traded between London and Jamaica during the same period Raffles was born. Raffles only officially used the name "Stamford" after his knighthood. The Ann was part of a convoy of 200 ships which were on the way to England and North America after a stopover in the lucrative slave trade of the Carribeans. She was a 260 tonner with 8 four-pounders. Built in 1765 in Scotland, the ship was owned by Hibberts & Co. of Glasgow with a possibility that Benjamin Raffles had a share in it, suggested in the ship's named closely correlated to his wife's, short of an "e".