British colonization first began in 1591, when the merchant Sir James Lancaster was commissioned by Commander Sir Francis Duke to sail to the East Indies. Sir James continued sailing until, in September 1592, he landed at Penang and remained there for two years, plundering all rival European ships that were to dock there. Returning to Britain in 1594 and passing on news of this newly discovered area, the English would not become a major participant in Penang's history until 1786 with the Malay Sultanate of Kedah. During this period, the Burmese and Siamese armies had increasingly threatened the Sultan of Penang forcing him to make a deal with the then British Navy Captain in the South East Asia region Francis Light. Captain Francis Light, while in Penang, acted directly under command of the British East India Company. The British East India Company, commissioned by Queen Elizabeth I, began trading operations in Southeast Asia in the 1600s focusing primarily on the acquisition and trade of cotton, silk, opium, and spices, all extremely valuable commodities throughout Europe. Because European countries were such imminent rivals to the English, the British East India Company had created a sizable English army that would protect the trade routes and lands managed by the Company. This was the basis for the agreement that the Sultan of Kedah tried to conclude with Captain Light. In exchange for English military protection from the Siamese and Burmese, the sultan would surrender Penang to the English. Once the agreement was concluded, Penang would be formally renamed Prince of Wales Island until it was renamed in 1867. Penang would be extremely advantageous to the British in the future in... middle of paper.... ..defeating the Japanese, the British agreed in 1947 to grant the Burmese complete independence within a year. On January 4, 1948, Burma would become an independent country. Works Cited6. Wilson, Constance, Dr. "Colonialism and Nationalism in Southeast Asia." Colonialism and nationalism in Southeast Asia. Himself, July 2005. Web. 02 December 2013.7. “The Biography of Francis Light – Founder of Penang.” The Biography of Francis Light - Founder of Penang. Holidays in Penang, October 2012. Web. 02 December 2013.8. "Straits of Malacca (Straits, Asia)." Encyclopedia Britannica online. Encyclopedia Britannica, November 2005. Web. 02 December 2013.9. "History of Burma". History of Burma. CFOB and Web. 01 December 2013.10. “On this day: Burma declares independence from Great Britain.” On this day: Burma declares independence from Great Britain. In search of Dulcinea, 4 January 2011. Web. 02 December. 2013.