Makepeace, Walter (1859– 1941) Journalist and author. Born in Coventry, United Kingdom, Walter Makepeace was educated at the Birmingham & Midland Institute, and then at Saltry College. He arrived in Singapore in 1884 to join the Straits Education Department, but taught for only three years.

He joined the Singapore Free Press as an assistant in July 1887 and remained there until 1926. From 1916, he was editor and manager.

Makepeace was also active in other areas. He was a Freemason, and was made Master of Lodge Zetland in 1894. He was one of the first recruits of the Singapore Volunteer Artillery (1888), retiring as captain and honorary major (1914), and remaining on the reserve list until 1920 (earning a Long Service Medal). During the Sepoy Mutiny (1915), Makepeace commanded 200 special constables. Other public offices he held included secretary and treasurer of the Singapore Merchant Guild Association and Justice of the Peace.

Makepeace was also, for 20 years, Reuters’ correspondent in Singapore and correspondent for the Paris edition of the New York Herald. He was the Malaya Delegate to the Imperial Press Conference at Ottawa (1920). However, he is best remembered for having co- authored One Hundred Years of Singapore (1921) with Dr Gilbert E. Brooke and Sir Roland St John Braddell.

Photo credit: National Archives of Singapore