Battles & Campaigns · 1874
Pangkor Treaty
Pangkor Island, Perak, Malaysia
What happened
Rival groups had been fighting the Larut Wars over tin mines, and there was a dispute over who should be Sultan of Perak. Aboard a ship off Pangkor Island, the British recognised Abdullah as sultan. In return, a British Resident would advise him on everything except religion and Malay custom.
Why it matters
It aimed to end the Larut Wars. It also began British colonial control of the Malay Peninsula.
What came next
James Birch became Perak's first British Resident, and Britain later extended similar control to other Malay states.
Did you know?
The mining town of Larut was renamed Taiping, meaning 'everlasting peace' in Chinese.
Timeline
- 1861Larut Wars begin.
- 1871Sultan Ali dies; succession dispute.
- 20 Jan 1874Pangkor Treaty signed.
- After 1874James Birch becomes Perak's first British Resident.