'Singapore, Inner Harbour, Aug 1862'

Watercolour by Lieutenant George E L S Sanford, Royal Engineers, 1862.

The British trading post on Singapore island was established in 1819 when Thomas Stamford Raffles signed a treaty with Sultan Hussein Shah on behalf of the East India Company. In 1824 the whole island became a British possession and two years later it became part of the Straits Settlements. Sanford painted this view of Singapore after serving in the Far East during the 2nd China War.

Born in 1840, George Edward Langham Somerset Sanford served as a lieutenant in the Royal Engineers, and was posted to China in 1858. He participated in operations during the Taiping Rebellion (1850-1864) and the 2nd China War (1856-1860). After a period working in the Ordnance Survey Department in England, Sanford served in India, in the Indian Public Works Department. Sanford served with Sir Frederick Roberts in the 2nd Afghan War (1878-1880) and became Deputy Quartermaster-General. He worked on the preparation for the successful campaign in Egypt in 1882 and was mentioned in despatches during the 3rd Burma War (1885-1887). In 1886, Colonel Sanford was appointed Director-General of Military Works in India, until he was given command of the Meerut District in 1893. Sanford was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in 1898.

From a box of 81 watercolours by Lieutenant (later General) George E L S Sanford (1840-1901), Royal Engineers, 1859-1862.