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The Balestiers: The First American Residents of Singapore
The Balestier family were the first Americans to take up residence in Singapore when they arrived in 1834 from Philadelphia. Although the name Balestier today remains as a road and district, the full story of the family has not been told until now. And what a story it is.
Joseph Balestier, aged 45, had secured an appointment as US Consul and sailed out to the East with his wife Maria and their teenage son Revere. On landing they were shocked to find Singapore closed to American shipping, with few if any opportunities for earning commissions from the supplying of ships, which Joseph had been banking on for his income. The outlook was grim. But they persevered.
A powerful, vivid picture of life emerges, in particular from a newly discovered trove of letters written by Maria to her relatives in America. These letters give us a priceless first-hand view of the family’s daily life, the sometimes absurd customs of Singapore society, the growth of the settlement, the mercantile activity of the port and the colourful characters brought in its wake, as well as the dangers constantly hanging over their heads – tigers, pirates, floods, malaria.
Also covered in detail here are Joseph’s foray into sugar cane planting – at the location that has come to bear his name – and his subsequent travels as US Presidential Envoy to various Southeast Asian states.
Combining rigorous historical research with superb narrative skill, author R. E. Hale brings to life the fascinating story of this pioneering family.
Joseph Balestier, aged 45, had secured an appointment as US Consul and sailed out to the East with his wife Maria and their teenage son Revere. On landing they were shocked to find Singapore closed to American shipping, with few if any opportunities for earning commissions from the supplying of ships, which Joseph had been banking on for his income. The outlook was grim. But they persevered.
A powerful, vivid picture of life emerges, in particular from a newly discovered trove of letters written by Maria to her relatives in America. These letters give us a priceless first-hand view of the family’s daily life, the sometimes absurd customs of Singapore society, the growth of the settlement, the mercantile activity of the port and the colourful characters brought in its wake, as well as the dangers constantly hanging over their heads – tigers, pirates, floods, malaria.
Also covered in detail here are Joseph’s foray into sugar cane planting – at the location that has come to bear his name – and his subsequent travels as US Presidential Envoy to various Southeast Asian states.
Combining rigorous historical research with superb narrative skill, author R. E. Hale brings to life the fascinating story of this pioneering family.
348 pages, Hardcover
Published March 1, 2016
About the author
R.E. Hale
1 bookRichard Hale retired from a long career in international commercial banking in 1995. Remaining in Singapore he then added “research into Singapore’s mercantile history in the 19th century” to his existing interests of ornithology and philately and The Balestiers is the first published result. Further articles and books are in preparation in anticipation of the probable celebration of Singapore’s modern bicentenary in February 2019.
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