• He negotiated the provisional agreement of 30 January 1819 with the local chieftain Temenggong Abdul Rahman; and the more formal Singapore Treaty of 6 February 1819, which was signed with the Temenggong and the Sultan Hussein Mohammed Shah, confirming the right for the British to set up a trading post.
• Word of the new trading post soon spread and Singapore became a thriving cosmopolitan town. Farquhar set about clearing the plain on the northeast bank of the Singapore River. He managed to attract traders, settlers and supplies to Singapore, and administered the settlement on a shoestring budget and set up the police force.

I think Raffles should be the fonder of Singapore.

He established a British trading post on the island in 1819 by signing a treaty with Sultan Hussein and Temenggong.This treaty marked the official founding of modern Singapore as a British colony and a break from its previous status as a port.

In my opinion,These contributions made by William are far more impactful than others.

Hence, I believe that William Farquhar made very impactful contributions which eventually shaped Singapore into the country it is today.

While Sir Stamford Raffles is often credited as the founder, it was Farquhar who actually stayed in Singapore and developed it during its critical early years. After Raffles left, Farquhar was the one who built up the port, maintained peace among the communities, and allowed immigrants and traders to settle freely—laying the true foundations of modern Singapore.

Farquhar worked closely with local leaders and was more practical and hands-on. He introduced laws, collected taxes, and improved living conditions. Without his contributions, Raffles’ vision might not have succeeded.

So even though Raffles made the first move in 1819, it was Farquhar who turned Singapore from a small fishing village into a thriving port city.

Raffles, on the other hand, was only in Singapore for a few short visits and was more idealistic. He even criticised Farquhar for being too lenient and dismissed him, despite everything Farquhar had done to get Singapore on its feet.

My definition of a founder is someone who actually puts a name to something and contributes a lot to the forming of something, and I see that vision a lot in William Farquhar.

I believe Sir Stamford Raffles is the rightful founder of Singapore. He was the first person to have the idea to establish a port in Singapore. He played a key role in securing the establishment of the British settlement by treaties with local ruler Tengku Hussein. In fact, William Farquhar had suggested to establish a port at the Karimun Islands, but the location proved unsuitable. The treaty of 1819 is widely regarded as the official beginning of modern Singapore - or in other words the founding of modern Singapore. Farquhar and Crawford did indeed help out with the development of Singapore. However, Raffled was the one to have the idea in the first place. So, even if he left SIngapore after its founding, I believe he is still the official founder of SIngapore.

1. Succeeded Raffles as Resident of Singapore (1823–1826): Crawfurd was appointed as the second British Resident of Singapore. His role was essentially as the chief administrator of the settlement after Raffles left.

2. Negotiated Treaties with Local Rulers: In 1824, Crawfurd negotiated the Treaty of Friendship and Alliancewith the Sultan of Johor and the Temenggong, which ceded the entire island of Singapore to the British East India Company. This solidified British control and helped legitimize their presence.

3. Established British Legal and Revenue Systems: He helped set up the legal and administrative foundations that would shape Singapore’s development into a major trading port.So john Crawford isn’t the founder of Singapore .

Crawfurd was instrumental in implementing key elements of Stamford Raffles's vision for Singapore, laying the foundation for its economic growth. He focused on developing the settlement's infrastructure and governance, which contributed significantly to its transformation into a thriving port city. ​

In recognition of his contributions, several landmarks in Singapore bear his name, including Crawford Street, Crawford Lane, Crawford Bridge, and Crawford Park. ​

For a visual overview of this period in Singapore's history, you might find the following video informative:

He also played a key role in developing Singapore's economy, infrastructure, and social order, building upon the foundations laid by Raffles. 

He also focused on promoting trade and attracting investments. He oversaw the construction of Commercial Square (now Raffles Place) and a bridge across the river, and implemented measures to improve the city's infrastructure. 

He also continued to stick to Raffles’ effort to suppress slavery and promote free trade to make traders from different countries to Come to Singapore and trade due to no taxes imposed by the government and making Singapore a ideal choice to trade for merchants.

He also securied Singapore’s early funds and investments and secured Singapore’s economic growth.

John Crawford may not be the actual founded but he contributed to Singapore’s early days to success.