The Career of Francis James Bernard: Nepotism and Patronage in Early Singapore

Francis James Bernard (1796–1843) was a founding pioneer in the British settlement at Singapore, becoming the first Master Attendant, engaging in maritime surveying and serving as inaugural head of the police department. He also established the Singapore Chronicle newspaper. His character has not fared well in history, largely due to adverse comments made by Sir Stamford Raffles, who treated Bernard unfairly, and a negative appraisal by historian Carl Gibson-Hill. Based on an examination of East India Company records as well as the comments of other of Bernard’s contemporaries, this article offers a more positive assessment of Bernard’s achievements and character, re-assessing a figure whose career path was shaped by the nepotism and patronage prevalent in Singapore’s early years.