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SINGAPORE – After two days of meetings with several business groups and ASEAN leaders, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's first trip to Singapore, as such, took a more personal turn.
On Thursday afternoon (November 15), the 46-year-old traveled to Fort Canning Park, taking a short walk across the lot to the brick walls where a commemorative plaque is located. great-great-great-grandmother Esther Farquhar. Bernard was placed.
She is the daughter of Major William Farquhar, first British resident and commander of Singapore from 1819 to 1823, and Antoinette "Nonio" Clement, a Malacca woman of Franco-Malay descent.
Mr. Trudeau spent a few minutes staring at the plaque, before bending down to record a video of the plaque he sent to his family members.
He was presented with a plaque bearing the design of a kingfisher from the William Farquhar Collection of Natural History Drawings of the National Museum of Singapore, as well as the commemorative plaque of another member of the family – William Clark Farquhar, grandson of Major Farquhar.
"It was a very touching moment to see the story of my family and to appreciate all the intertwining links and links that unite each of our stories," said Mr. Trudeau.
Fort Canning Hill also has a special connection with Major Farquhar.
When he arrived here with Sir Stamford Raffles in 1819, he had climbed the hill and hoisted the Union Jack.
In a dialogue with students at the National University of Singapore earlier in the day, Mr. Trudeau laughingly said that he was referring to a historical perspective suggesting that Major Farquhar, who had shaped Singapore as a trading post between 1819 and 1823, had played a larger role in the creation of Singapore.
"I am not terribly biased, I will defend my great grandfather fifth time," joked Mr. Trudeau, explaining that Major Farquhar was sacked from Singapore in 1823 following a violent quarrel that He had opposed Sir Stamford Raffles.
"He was banished by Raffles after a few years of being too close to the locals, allowing them to play and allowing them to retain more cultures and traditions than the British and the Raffles wanted.
"When it was banned, the harbor was apparently filled with small boats and people along the shoreline to say goodbye to it in memory – it was an interesting piece of history," said Mr. Trudeau. .
He added that it was his mother, Mrs. Margaret Trudeau, now 70 years old, who found the historical connection when she was approached by producers of a Canadian television show featuring famous Canadians tracing their genealogical roots. . She went there to learn more.
Ms. Trudeau's discovery trip, covered by a 2008 Canadian TV show, revealed that Major Farquhar's daughter, Esther, had married a British army officer in 1818, but he left her later. The series tells that she had a difficult life in Singapore. She raised five children and died at age 41, almost penniless.
In an interview with The Straits Times in 2007, Ms. Trudeau said she always had the feeling that she had Asian roots, because of her interest in Buddhism and Confucianism.
The National Library assisted in his research and the grave of his ancestor was located.
"We certainly know a lot about the Sinclairs (her maiden name), but very little about my mother's side, and I really feel that Esther has entered my mind," she said.
Plans are currently underway to restore the rich history of Fort Canning Park. Earlier this year, 18 trees were planted in the future Farquhar Garden.
Once completed next June, it will take over the current Stamford Green and include plants originally cultivated by Major Farquhar.
This article was first published in The Straits Times. Permission required for reproduction.
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