Cavenagh Bridge is originally known as the Edinburgh Bridge to celebrate the visit of the Duke of Edinburgh. Its name was changed to Cavenagh Bridge to honor Major General Orfeur Cavenagh, who governed from 1859 to 1867 and was the last India-appointed Governor of the Straits Settlements.
It is one of the oldest and the only suspension bridges in Singapore. It was opened in 1869 to commemorate Singapore's new Crown colony of the Straits Settlements status in 1867.