Frank Swettenham

Who was Frank Swettenham?

Sir Frank Athelstane Swettenham, GCMG, CH was the first Resident General of the Federated Malay States which was formed by combining a number of sultanates. He served from 1 July 1896 to 1901. He was also an amateur photographer. He was born in Belper, Derbyshire, Britain.

He was one of close to forty former British empire officials to actually oppose the Malayan Union.

He created a dictionary "Vocabulary of the English and Malay languages". He also published four books "Malay Sketches", "Unaddressed Letters", "Also & Perhaps" and "Arabella in Africa", the latter being illustrated by the famous mural painter and illustrator, Rex Whistler. The book was Whistler's first official commission.