# List of chief secretaries of Singapore
## Resident councillors of Singapore (1826-1867)

The resident councillor of Singapore was a high ranking government civil position in colonial Singapore during the Straits Settlements era. It was second only to the governor of the Straits Settlements in the colonial government.
| № | Portrait | Name (Born–Died) | Term of office | Term of office | Origin | Background or previous appointment | Governor (From–To) |
| № | Portrait | Name (Born–Died) | Took office | Left office | Origin | Background or previous appointment | Governor (From–To) |
| 1 | | John Prince (1772-1848) | 15 August 1826 | 18 November 1827 | — | — | Robert Fullerton (1826-1830) |
| 2 | | Kenneth Murchison (1794–1854) | 29 November 1827 | 6 December 1833 | Scotland | Employee at East India Company | Robert Fullerton (1826-1830) |
| 2 | | Kenneth Murchison (1794–1854) | 29 November 1827 | 6 December 1833 | Scotland | Employee at East India Company | Robert Ibbetson (1830-1833) |
| 3 | | Sir Samuel George Bonham (1803–1863) | 7 December 1833 | 18 November 1836 | Kent, England | Employee at East India Company | Kenneth Murchison (1833-1836) |
| 4 | | Thomas Church (1798–1860) | 4 March 1837 | 20 September 1856 | Somerset, England | Assistant Resident of Pinang | Samuel George Bonham (1836-1843) |
| 4 | | Thomas Church (1798–1860) | 4 March 1837 | 20 September 1856 | Somerset, England | Assistant Resident of Pinang | William John Butterworth (1843-1855) |
| 4 | | Thomas Church (1798–1860) | 4 March 1837 | 20 September 1856 | Somerset, England | Assistant Resident of Pinang | Edmund Augustus Blundell (1855-1859) |
| 5 | | Henry Somerset MacKenzie (1826–1904) | 22 September 1856 | 13 July 1859 | — | — | Edmund Augustus Blundell (1855-1859) |
| 5 | | Henry Somerset MacKenzie (1826–1904) | 22 September 1856 | 13 July 1859 | — | — | William Orfeur Cavenagh (1859-1867) |
| — | | Colonel Ronald MacPherson (1817–1869) | 10 March 1859 — 7 October 1860 As acting Resident Councillor | 10 March 1859 — 7 October 1860 As acting Resident Councillor | Island of Skye, Scotland | Resident Councillor of Malacca | William Orfeur Cavenagh (1859-1867) |
| 6 | | Colonel Ronald MacPherson (1817–1869) | 8 October 1860 | 31 March 1867 | Island of Skye, Scotland | Resident Councillor of Malacca | William Orfeur Cavenagh (1859-1867) |

## Colonial secretaries of the Straits Settlements (1867–1942)

| № | Portrait | Name (Born–Died) | Term of office | Term of office | Origin | Background or previous appointment | Governor (From–To) |
| № | Portrait | Name (Born–Died) | Took office | Left office | Origin | Background or previous appointment | Governor (From–To) |
| 1 | | Colonel Ronald MacPherson (1817–1869) | 1 April 1867 | 6 December 1869 (Died in office) | Island of Skye, Scotland | Resident Councillor of Singapore | Sir Harry St. George Ord (1867-1871) |
| — | | E W Shaw Acting | 7 December 1869 | 5 June 1870 | — | Colonial administrator | Sir Harry St. George Ord (1867-1871) |
| 2 | | James Wheeler Woodford Birch (1826–1875) | 6 June 1870 | 4 November 1874 | — | Colonial administrator | Sir Harry St. George Ord (1867-1871) |
| 2 | | James Wheeler Woodford Birch (1826–1875) | 6 June 1870 | 4 November 1874 | — | Colonial administrator | Edward Anson (1871-1872) 1st time Acting |
| 2 | | James Wheeler Woodford Birch (1826–1875) | 6 June 1870 | 4 November 1874 | — | Colonial administrator | Sir Harry St. George Ord (1872-1873) |
| 2 | | James Wheeler Woodford Birch (1826–1875) | 6 June 1870 | 4 November 1874 | — | Colonial administrator | Edward Anson (1873) 2nd time Acting |
| 2 | | James Wheeler Woodford Birch (1826–1875) | 6 June 1870 | 4 November 1874 | — | Colonial administrator | Sir Andrew Clarke (1873-1875) |
| — | | Thomas Braddell (1823–1891) Acting | 4 November 1874 | 17 February 1876 | County Wicklow, Ireland | Attorney-General of Singapore | Sir Andrew Clarke (1873-1875) |
| — | | William Willans (d. 1905) Acting | 4 November 1874 | 17 February 1876 | — | Colonial Treasurer of Straits Settlements | Sir Andrew Clarke (1873-1875) |
| — | | William Willans (d. 1905) Acting | 4 November 1874 | 17 February 1876 | — | Colonial Treasurer of Straits Settlements | Sir William Jervois (1875-1877) |
| — | | Charles John Irving (1831–1917) Acting | 4 November 1874 | 17 February 1876 | London, England | Auditor-General of Straits Settlements | Sir William Jervois (1875-1877) |
| 3 | | Sir John Douglas (1836–1885) | 17 February 1876 | 17 August 1878 | Limerick, Ireland | Accountant General and Controller of Revenue | Sir William Jervois (1875-1877) |
| 3 | | Sir John Douglas (1836–1885) | 17 February 1876 | 17 August 1878 | Limerick, Ireland | Accountant General and Controller of Revenue | Edward Anson (1877) 3rd time Acting |
| 3 | | Sir John Douglas (1836–1885) | 17 February 1876 | 17 August 1878 | Limerick, Ireland | Accountant General and Controller of Revenue | Sir William Cleaver Francis Robinson (1877-1879) |
| 4 | | Sir Cecil Clementi Smith (1840–1916) | 3 September 1878 | 17 November 1885 | London, England | Colonial Treasurer of Hong Kong | Sir William Cleaver Francis Robinson (1877-1879) |
| 4 | | Sir Cecil Clementi Smith (1840–1916) | 3 September 1878 | 17 November 1885 | London, England | Colonial Treasurer of Hong Kong | Edward Anson (1879-1880) 4th time Acting |
| 4 | | Sir Cecil Clementi Smith (1840–1916) | 3 September 1878 | 17 November 1885 | London, England | Colonial Treasurer of Hong Kong | Sir Frederick Weld (1880-1887) |
| 5 | | Sir John Frederick Dickson (1835–1891) | 17 November 1885 | 31 August 1891 | — | Colonial administrator | Sir Frederick Weld (1880-1887) |
| 5 | | Sir John Frederick Dickson (1835–1891) | 17 November 1885 | 31 August 1891 | — | Colonial administrator | Sir Cecil Clementi Smith (1887-1893) |
| — | | Arthur Philip Talbot (b. 18?? – d. 19 December 1898) Acting | 31 August 1891 | 9 March 1892 | — | Colonial administrator | Sir Cecil Clementi Smith (1887-1893) |
| 6 | | William Edward Maxwell (1846–1897) | 9 March 1892 | 11 February 1895 | — | British Resident of Selangor | Sir Cecil Clementi Smith (1887-1893) |
| 6 | | William Edward Maxwell (1846–1897) | 9 March 1892 | 11 February 1895 | — | British Resident of Selangor | William Edward Maxwell (1893-1894) Acting |
| 6 | | William Edward Maxwell (1846–1897) | 9 March 1892 | 11 February 1895 | — | British Resident of Selangor | Sir Charles Mitchell (1894-1899) |
| 7 | | James Alexander Swettenham (1846–1933) | 11 February 1895 | 7 December 1899 | Derbyshire, England | Accountant General and Controller of Revenue | Sir Charles Mitchell (1894-1899) |
| — | | Sir Walter Egerton (1858–1947) Acting | 7 December 1899 | 5 July 1901 | — | Colonial administrator | James Alexander Swettenham (1899-1901) Acting |
| — | | Charles Walter Sneyd-Kynnersley (1849-1904) Acting | 7 December 1899 | 5 July 1901 | — | Colonial administrator | James Alexander Swettenham (1899-1901) Acting |
| 8 | | Sir William Thomas Taylor (1848–1931) | 5 July 1901 | 31 December 1904 | — | Accountant General and Controller of Revenue | Sir Frank Swettenham (1901-1904) |
| 8 | | Sir William Thomas Taylor (1848–1931) | 5 July 1901 | 31 December 1904 | — | Accountant General and Controller of Revenue | Sir John Anderson (1904-1911) |
| 9 | | Frederick George Penney (c. 1856–1928) | 1 January 1905 | 13 April 1905 | — | Resident Councillor of Malacca | Sir John Anderson (1904-1911) |
| — | | Edward Lewis Brockman (1865–1943) Acting | 13 April 1905 | 29 June 1906 | — | Assistant Colonial Secretary of Straits Settlements | Sir John Anderson (1904-1911) |
| 10 | | Sir Arthur Young (1854–1938) | 29 June 1906 | 31 January 1911 | — | Colonial administrator Navy officer | Sir John Anderson (1904-1911) |
| 11 | | Edward Lewis Brockman (1865–1943) | 1 February 1911 | 4 September 1911 | — | Resident of Pahang | Sir John Anderson (1904-1911) |
| 12 | | Richard James Wilkinson (1867–1941) | 4 September 1911 | February 1916 | Salonika, Greece | British Resident at Negeri Sembilan | Sir Arthur Young (1911-1920) |
| — | | William George Maxwell (1871–1959) Acting | February 1916 | April 1916 | Malacca, Straits Settlements | British Adviser for Kedah | Sir Arthur Young (1911-1920) |
| 13 | | Sir Frederick Seton James (1870–1934) | April 1916 | 19 March 1924 | UK | Colonial administrator | Sir Arthur Young (1911-1920) |
| 13 | | Sir Frederick Seton James (1870–1934) | April 1916 | 19 March 1924 | UK | Colonial administrator | Sir Laurence Guillemard (1920-1927) |
| — | | George Hemmant (1880–1964) Acting 1st time Acting | 19 March 1924 | 2 April 1924 | — | Colonial administrator | Sir Laurence Guillemard (1920-1927) |
| 14 | | Edward Shaw Hose (1871–1946) | 2 April 1924 | 21 November 1925 | Surrey, England | British Resident of Negri Sembilan | Sir Laurence Guillemard (1920-1927) |
| 15 | | Sir Hayes Marriott (1873–1929) | 21 November 1925 | 16 December 1928 | — | General Adviser to Johore | Sir Laurence Guillemard (1920-1927) |
| 15 | | Sir Hayes Marriott (1873–1929) | 21 November 1925 | 16 December 1928 | — | General Adviser to Johore | Sir Hugh Clifford (1927-1929) |
| — | | George Hemmant (1880–1964) 2nd time Acting | 16 December 1928 | 12 February 1929 | — | Colonial administrator | Sir Hugh Clifford (1927-1929) |
| 16 | | Sir John Scott (1878–1946) | 12 February 1929 | 23 May 1933 | — | Chief Secretary of Tanganyika Territory | Sir Hugh Clifford (1927-1929) |
| 16 | | Sir John Scott (1878–1946) | 12 February 1929 | 23 May 1933 | — | Chief Secretary of Tanganyika Territory | Sir John Scott (1929-1930) Acting |
| 16 | | Sir John Scott (1878–1946) | 12 February 1929 | 23 May 1933 | — | Chief Secretary of Tanganyika Territory | Sir Cecil Clementi (1930-1934) |
| 17 | | Sir Andrew Caldecott (1884–1951) | 23 May 1933 | 7 December 1935 | Kent, England | Chief Secretary of Federated Malaya States (FMS) | Sir Cecil Clementi (1930-1934) |
| 17 | | Sir Andrew Caldecott (1884–1951) | 23 May 1933 | 7 December 1935 | Kent, England | Chief Secretary of Federated Malaya States (FMS) | Sir Shenton Thomas (1934-1942) & (1945-1946) |
| 18 | | Sir Alexander Sym Small (1887–1944) | 7 December 1935 | 19 January 1940 | North Lanarkshire, Scotland | Treasurer of Straits Settlements | Sir Shenton Thomas (1934-1942) & (1945-1946) |
| 19 | | Stanley Wilson Jones (1888–1962) | 19 January 1940 | 27 January 1942 | — | British Resident of Selangor | Sir Shenton Thomas (1934-1942) & (1945-1946) |
| — | | Hugh Fraser (1891–1944) Acting | 27 January 1942 | 15 February 1942 | — | Colonial administrator | Sir Shenton Thomas (1934-1942) & (1945-1946) |

## Colonial Secretaries of Singapore (1946-1955)

| № | Portrait | Name (Born–Died) | Term of office | Term of office | Origin | Background or previous appointment | Governor (From–To) |
| № | Portrait | Name (Born–Died) | Took office | Left office | Origin | Background or previous appointment | Governor (From–To) |
| 1 | | Sir Patrick Alexander Bruce McKerron (1896–1964) | 1 April 1946 | 29 April 1950 | Aberdeen, Scotland | Deputy Chief Civil Affairs Officer | Sir Franklin Charles Gimson (1946-1952) |
| — | | J D M Smith Acting | 29 April 1950 | 30 June 1950 | — | Colonial administrator | Sir Franklin Charles Gimson (1946-1952) |
| | | Wilfred Lawson Blythe (1896–1975) | 30 June 1950 | 30 July 1953 | — | Colonial administrator | Sir Franklin Charles Gimson (1946-1952) |
| 2 | | Wilfred Lawson Blythe (1896–1975) | 30 June 1950 | 30 July 1953 | — | Colonial administrator |
| 2 | | Wilfred Lawson Blythe (1896–1975) | 30 June 1950 | 30 July 1953 | — | Colonial administrator | Wilfred Lawson Blythe (1952) Acting |
| 2 | | Wilfred Lawson Blythe (1896–1975) | 30 June 1950 | 30 July 1953 | — | Colonial administrator | Sir John Fearns Nicoll (1952-1955) |
| 3 | | William Allmond Codrington Goode (1907–1986) | 30 July 1953 | February 1955 | Middlesex, England | Colonial administrator | Sir John Fearns Nicoll (1952-1955) |

## Chief Secretaries of Singapore (1955-1959)

| № | Portrait | Name (Born–Died) | Term of office | Term of office | Origin | Background or previous appointment | Governor (From–To) |
| № | Portrait | Name (Born–Died) | Took office | Left office | Origin | Background or previous appointment | Governor (From–To) |
| 1 | | William Allmond Codrington Goode (1907–1986) | February 1955 | 9 December 1957 | Middlesex, England | Colonial Secretary of Singapore | William Goode (1955) Acting |
| 1 | | William Allmond Codrington Goode (1907–1986) | February 1955 | 9 December 1957 | Middlesex, England | Colonial Secretary of Singapore | Sir Robert Brown Black (1955-1957) |
| | | William Allmond Codrington Goode (1907–1986) | February 1955 | 9 December 1957 | Middlesex, England | Colonial Secretary of Singapore | William Goode (1957-1959) |
| 2 | | Edgeworth Beresford David (1908–1965) | 29 January 1958 | 2 June 1959 | London, England | Colonial Secretary of Hong Kong | William Goode (1957-1959) |