Farquhar had faced several problems. However, he managed to solve all of them and help the new settlement come to life. William Farquhar's main task was to ensure the economic survival and growth of this East India Company "factory", to attract traders to this free port, and to arrange the allocation and distribution of land among the various communities on the island. Given Raffles' infrequent visits to Singapore, and fitful supervision from Bencoolen, Farquhar was left with the heavy burdens of making as well as implementing policies, until Raffles' final and longest visit of October 1822 to June 1823, during which the differences between them came to a head, over such matters as land allocation, gambling, and slavery.
These are the main problems faced by William Farquhar: 1. Farquhar had to get people to come to trade in Singapore. Farquhar invited settlers from Melaka to come. He invited passing ships to stop in Singapore when he stationed a British Official on St. John's island.
2. There must be enough food to keep the new settlers here. The people of Melaka heard about Singapore and sailed down in boats loaded with chickens, ducks, fruits, and other foodstuffs, which they sold at high prices.
3. Then, with the new settlers came violence and disorder. Robbery, fighting and murder took place very often. Farquhar started a small police force, but it had too few police to keep law and order.
4. Farquhar had to get rid of rats and centipedes. Farquhar offered money for every rat and centipede killed. His campign against pests succeeded.
New Knowlegdge
Now, we are going to share more about William Farquhar:
Early life
Farquhar was born at Newhall, Aberdeenshire, near Aberdeen in 1774, and joined the East India Company as a cadet when he was 17. Arrived in Madras on 19 June 1791, and shortly after on 22 June 1791, was promoted to a low-rank commissioned officer of the Madras Engineers. Two years later on 16 August 1793, he became a Lieutenant in the Madras Engineers.Career
Farquhar was Chief Engineer in the expeditionary force which took Malacca from the Dutch on 18 August 1795. On 1 January 1803 he was promoted to the rank of full Captain. He was very successful as the Cheif Engineer.
William Farquhar also played a very important role in the founding of Singapore. He made the new settlement came to life.
On 9 May 1821, William Farquhar was sacked. Despite his many positive achievements in the formative period of Singapore's development, he adopted measures in his administration which conflicted with Raffles' instructions, notably in allowing the erection of houses and go downs on the Padang and on the nearby banks of the Singapore River. His justification was that in the fast rapidly expanding settlement 'nothing is heard in the shape of complaint but the want of more ground to build on'.
