Robert James Elliot served as a topographical draughtsman with the British Royal Navy who was active during the first half of the 19th century. Between 1822 to 1824, he was on a ship that toured India and Canton, very likely passing through Singapore, during which his drawing of this scene of Singapore from Government Hill might have been created. A reproduction of this scene was published in an 1828 work by the second Resident of Singapore, John Crawfurd.
