J.H. Moor was the first Head Master of the Singapore Institution (now known as "Raffles Institution"). He was born in Macao in 1803, studied at Trinity College, Dublin, and eventually returned to the East. He came to Singapore in 1830 where he first taught in a private school. He joined the Institution in December 1837.

Under his guidance, the Institution made steady progress. The number of students increased from 50 in 1834 to nearly 200 in 1842. Under his management the Institution was very successful.

His interest in the Institution can be borne out of the following letter. Writing to the Governor on 6 March 1839, he sought permission to establish a printing press and hoped that the government would come to the Institution for its printing so as to enable it to cover costs of maintenance and so be able to initiate a few of the older and more destitute boys in the art of printing.

The venture collapsed, however, but to show the work that Moor handled as head of the Institution, this letter serves effectively.

"My Dear Sir,
          I now beg to hand my account with the School, which exhibits a balance in my favour of $126.49. The account shows on my side various expenditures for upwards of a year, since the last account was presented and including the purchases of stationery for the use of the School and Printing Office, pay of printers, sundry repairs, white-washing, attaps and also the making up of clothes for 3 boys, purchase of school books and maps from Calcutta and bills for premium awarded at the last examination."

Mr. Moor died suddenly in May 1843 and a large number of local people attended his funeral to mark the respect in which they held this character. He had given the best years of his life to the pioneer work of the Singapore Institution.