Captain Francis Light (1740-1794) was the founder of the British colony of Penang (in modern-day Malaysia) and its capital George Town in 1786.
Born in Suffolk and a Royal Navy midshipman from 1759 to 1763, from 1765 he worked as a trader for the British East India Company and secured the island of Penang from the sultan of Kedah, adding the mainland Province Wellesley to his domain in 1791. He served as the Superintendent of the colony until his death from malaria in 1794.
His illegitimate son, Colonel William Light, was the founder of Adelaide in Australia.
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Last updated: 09-12-2005 02:39:13
