Clifford Pier was built between 1927 and 1933, and was named after Sir Hugh Clifford, the former Governor of the Straits Settlements between 1927 and 1929. Its opening on 3 June 1933 was boycotted by merchants as they wanted the old name, Johnston's Pier, reinstated. The Scottish Alexander Laurie Johnston was one of the earliest distinguished European residents who was in Singapore at about the same time as Sir Stamford Raffles. A friend of the latter, Johnston was one of Singapore's first businessmen and the founder of the Chamber of Commerce. He was a popular and well-respected citizen whose business was directly connected in those days with imports and exports to and from Europe, ships' victualling and supplies. This meant that ships' captains called frequently on Johnston, who was well known for his kindness, wisdom and hospitality.