J. W. W. Birch
| James Wheeler Woodford Birch | |
|---|---|
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| 1st British Resident of Perak | |
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In office 4 November 1874 – 2 November 1875 |
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| Preceded by | None |
| Succeeded by | Frank A. Swettenham |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 3 April 1826 |
| Died | 2 November 1875 (aged 49) Pasir Salak, British Malaya |
James Wheeler Woodford Birch, commonly known as J. W. W. Birch (3 April 1826 – 2 November 1875) was a British colonial official who was assassinated in the Malay state of Perak in 1875, an event that led to the outbreak of the Perak War and ultimately to the extension of British political influence over the Malay Peninsula.
Latar Belakang Dilahirkan pada tahun 1826, Birch berkhidmat untuk tempoh yang singkat di Tentera Laut Diraja sebelum menyertai Jabatan Jalan di Ceylon pada tahun 1846. Kerjaya beliau di Ceylon berjaya, dan pada tahun 1870 ia dipindahkan ke Singapura untuk mengambil kedudukan Setiausaha Kolonial. ] Berikutan Penglibatan Pangkor, di mana Raja Abdullah bersetuju untuk menerima seorang ejen politik British yang dikenali sebagai "Residen" di mahkamahnya, Birch dilantik ke jawatan itu pada 4 November 1874 sebagai penjaga kerajaan kepada Sultan Perak.
Birch was killed on 2 November 1875 by followers of a local Malay chief, Dato Maharajalela, including Seputum, who speared him to death while he was in the bath-house of his boat, SS Dragon, moored on the Perak river-bank below the Maharajela's house, in Pasir Salak, near today's Teluk Intan (Teluk Anson).
Richard O. Winstead in his "A History of Malaya" on page 226 published in the Journal of the Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, reprinted in 1986, wrote that a Malay deputation entreated with Governor-General Andrew Clarke in Singapore "to prevent the Resident from interfering with religion and custom, from acting without consulting Sultan and chiefs, and from depriving them of their property, namely fugitive slaves and feudal dues." Clarke had already observed on 25 March 1875 that, "I am very much annoyed with Birch and the heads-over-heels way in which he does things; he and I will come to sorrow yet, if he does not mind." On 21 July 1875 Raja Abdullah, in despair, called a meeting of chiefs where after a talk of poisoning Birch accepted the Maharajalela's offer to stab Birch to death.
Dato' Maharajalela, who was the individual chiefly responsible for Birch's death, is regarded by most Perak Malays as a heroic figure who resisted British imperialism. He and the others involved were hanged by the British.
Sultan Abdullah, who was also believed to have some complicity in the assassination, was deposed and exiled to the Seychelles. His arch-rival Raja Yusuf was installed as Sultan in his place.
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