Ronald MacPherson


Colonel Ronald MacPherson, was a soldier, architect and colonial administrator. He is well known for the design of St Andrew Cathedral in Singapore.

Education

MacPherson was educated in East India Company's military college in Addiscombe, Croydon between 1834 and 1836.

Career

Military

MacPherson passed for the Engineers Corps, but as there were few nominations for Engineers Corps. Instead, he was gazetted as 2nd lieutenant in the Madras Artillery on the 10 June 1836 and arrived at India on the 10 November of the same year. In India he learned Arabic and Hindustani, studied engineering and helped to prepare the Madras Gunnery Tables, which European artillery companies consulted for many years.
MacPherson served in the First Opium War of 1842 with the Madras Artillery and was later appointed staff officer to the Artillery in the Straits Settlements in 1843.

Colonial Service

MacPherson started his career in Colonial Service as Executive Engineer and Superintendent of Convicts at Penang in 1849. He constructed many useful works such as Police Office and Court of Requests.
MacPherson was appointed as the first Captain Commandant in 1854–1856 and later Honorary Colonel in 1864 of the Singapore Volunteer Rifle Corps.
Between 1855 and 1857, MacPherson was also the Executive Engineer and Superintendent of Convicts in Singapore.
MacPherson was appointed as the Resident Councillor of Malacca, Penang and Singapore till 1867 when the British government agreed to establish the Straits Settlements as a separate Crown Colony as the merchant community began agitating against British Indian rule. MacPherson continued as the 1st Colonial Secretary of the Straits Settlement till his death in 1869.

St Andrew's Cathedral

During his tenure as Executive Engineer, William Butterworth initiated MacPherson to design a new church in the Gothic Revival style to replace the demolished St Andrew's Church. The completion of the building was overseen by Major John F. A. McNair, John Bennett and W. D. Bayliss in 1861.
A monument cross stands in the south lawn of St Andrew's Cathedral was dedicated to MacPherson.

Death

MacPherson died on 6 December 1869 and was buried in Old Bukit Timah Cemetery of Singapore.

Legacy

Jalan Klapa was renamed as MacPherson Road in Singapore to commemorate Ronald MacPherson's achievements.