Sir Thomas Stamford Bingley Raffles ( July 6 , 1781 -- July 5 , 1826 ) , also known as Stamford Raffles , was the founder of the city of Singapore , and is one of the most famous Britons who expanded the British Empire . Sir Thomas Stamford Bingley Raffles ( 6 July 1781 â `` 5 July 1826 ) was a British statesman , best known for his founding of the city of Singapore ( now the city-state of the Republic of Singapore ) .