Sir Stamford Raffles lost no time after January 1819, when he landed on Singapore River among the "orang laut", in bargaining with Temenggong Abdul Rahman, the Temenggong of Johor who then governed the place, having settled in 1811. At the very moment of landing, Raffles must have realised the importance of the river for, in the same year of 1819, the north bank was drained for government buildings, in 1820, the Master Attendant was appointed with an office building to control shipping, and in 1822, the south bank was reclaimed and a retaining wall and steps were built.