According to Singapore Street Names, Pearl's Hill Terrace was named after Captain James Pearl, the commander of the ship that brought Stamford Raffles to Singapore in January 1819. Captain Pearl first sought permission from the Temenggong in order to reside at the hill (which subsequently bore his name). He began acquiring land on the hill, purchasing from Chinese gambier planters who had arrived in Singapore before the British.
Captain Pearl attempted to flatter Stamford Raffles by naming the hill Mount Stamford. However, for some reason, Raffles was not satisfied with Pearl, and ordered Resident Lieutenant-Colonel William Farquhar to repossess the hill on behalf of the Government. It is not clear why, but Raffles later relented and accorded Pearl the right to the hill. Pearl moved to rename Mount Stamford after himself, and it became known as Pearl Hill to this day. After Pearl retired and returned to Europe, he sold it back to the Government.
Pearl Hill is known in Hokkien as Cin3cu3 Snua1 珍珠山, which is the Hokkien translation of Pearl Hill.
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