Horsburgh Lighthouse

Infobox_Lighthouse


caption =
location = Pedra Branca, Singapore
coordinates =coord|1|19|81|N|104|24|34|E
yearbuilt = 1851
yearlit =
automated =
yeardeactivated =
foundation =
construction =
shape = Conical tower
marking = Black and white horizontal bands
height = 34 m
elevation = 31 m
lens =
currentlens =
intensity =
range =
characteristic = Flashing white every 10 seconds
admiralty =F1820
NGA =21188
ARLHS =SIN-001The Horsburgh Lighthouse (Chinese: 霍士堡灯塔; Malay: "Rumah Api Horsburgh") is a lighthouse which marks the eastern entrance to the Straits of Singapore. It is situated on Pedra Branca. It is Singapore's earliest lighthouse by date of completion. It is located approximately 54 kilometres to the east of Singapore and 14 km from the Malaysian state of Johor.

History

The Horsburgh Lighthouse was named after Captain James Horsburghcite web | url = http://www.electricscotland.com/history/other/horsburgh_james.htm | title = James Horsburgh | publisher = Electric Scotland | accessdate = 2007-11-01] (September 28,1762 - May 14,1836), a Scottish hydrographer from the East India Company, who mapped many seaways around Singapore in the late 18th century and early 19th century. He was called "The Nautical Oracle of the World". His charts and books allowed ships to navigate through treacherous areas of the ocean, saving many lives and property on the seas between China and India.

Location

The lighthouse was built over an outcrop of rocks that for centuries was identified on maps as Pedra Branca (white rocks in Portuguese). It was built by John Turnbull Thomson (1821 - 1884), a government surveyor. In the presence of Governor William John Butterworth and other dignitaries, the lighthouse foundation stone was laid on 24 May 1850 and the lighthouse was completed in 1851. The lighthouse is also known as "Pedra Branca Lighthouse".

Notes

References

*cite book|last=Savage|first=Victor R.|coauthors=Brenda S.A. Yeoh|title=Toponymics – A Study of Singapore Street Names|location=Singapore|publisher=Eastern Universities Press|year=2003|isbn=981-210-205-1

Further reading

*cite book|last=Hall-Jones|first=John|title=The Horsburgh Lighthouse|location=Invercargill, N.Z.|publisher=John Hall-Jones|year=1995|isbn=0473032058 (pbk.)
*cite book|last=Pavitt|first=J.A.L.|title=First Pharos of the Eastern Seas : Horsburgh Lighthouse|location=Singapore|publisher=Donald Moore Press|year=1966
*cite book|last=Thomson|first=J.T. (John Turnbull)|authorlink=John Turnbull Thomson|title=Account of the Horsburgh Light-house, Erected on Pedra Branca, near Singapore|location=Singapore|publisher= [s.n.] |year=1852

External links

* [http://infopedia.nlb.gov.sg/articles/SIP_107_2005-01-20.html Singapore Infopedia: Horsburgh Lighthouse]
* [http://www.lhdepot.com/database/uniquelighthouse.cfm?value=2177 Lighthouse Depot: Horsburgh Lighthouse] (with photo)
* [http://www.mobilegeographics.com:81/locations/5878.html Tide tables with map]
* [http://www.unc.edu/~rowlett/lighthouse/sgp.htm Lighthouse Directory:SGP]
* [http://wlol.arlhs.com/index.php?mode=zones&zone=SIN Amateur Radio Lighthouse Society World List of Lights (WLOL): Singapore]