Timeline of Singaporean history
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| This article is part of the History of Singapore series |
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| Early history of Singapore (pre-1819) |
| Founding of modern Singapore (1819–1826) |
| Straits Settlements (1826–1867) |
| Crown colony (1867–1942) |
| Battle of Singapore (1942) |
| Japanese Occupation (1942–1945) |
| Sook Ching massacre (1942–1945) |
| Post-war period (1945–1955) |
| First Legislative Council (1948–1951) |
| Maria Hertogh riots(1950) |
| Second Legislative Council (1951–1955) Anti-National Service Riots (1954) |
| Internal self-government (1955–1962) |
| Hock Lee bus riots (1955) |
| Chinese middle schools riots (1956) |
| Merger with Malaysia (1962–1965) |
| Merger referendum, 1962 |
| Operation Coldstore (1963) |
| Race Riots of 1964 |
| MacDonald House bombing (1965) |
| Republic of Singapore (1965–present) |
| 1969 Race Riots of Singapore (1969) |
| Operation Spectrum (1987) |
| East Asian financial crisis (1997) |
| Embassies attack plot (2001) |
| See also: Timeline of Singaporean history |
| [edit this box] |
This is a timeline of the history of Singapore. For more detailed annual listings, see List of years in Singapore.
Contents |
[edit] Before 1800
- 3rd century - Early Chinese account of Singapore describes the island of "Pu Luo Chung".
- 13th century - The port of Temasek is founded by Sang Nila Utama, a prince of Srivijaya.
- 1320 - the Mongol court sent a mission to obtain elephants from Long Ya Men (or Dragon's Tooth Strait), believed to be Keppel Harbour.
- 1330s - The Chinese traveller Wang Dayuan visits Temasek.
- 1390s - Parameswara, the last Srivijayan prince, flees to Temasek.
- 1414 - Temasek becomes part of the Sultanate of Malacca established by Parameswara.
- 1511 - Temasek becomes part of Sultanate of Johor after Malacca fell to the Portuguese.
- 1613 - Portuguese burns down a trading outpost at the mouth of Singapore River.
[edit] 1800-1899
- 1819 January 29 - Stamford Raffles arrives in Singapore with William Farquhar to establish a trading post for the British East India Company.
- 1819 February 6 - The treaty is signed between Sultan Hussein of Johor, Temenggong Abdul Rahman and Stamford Raffles. Farquhar is installed as Resident of the settlement.
- 1822 - Raffles drafts the Raffles Plan of Singapore to reorganise the island.
- 1823 - Raffles founds the Singapore Institution, later renamed the Raffles Institution.
- Dr John Crawfurd takes over as Resident.
- 1824 - The Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1824 is signed, Dutch withdraw all objections to British occupation of Singapore.
- 1826 - Singapore becomes part of the British colony of Straits Settlements under the rule of the East India Company, together with Malacca and Penang.
- 1830 - Singapore comes under the Presidency of Bengal in India.
- 1832 - Singapore becomes the centre of government of the Straits Settlements.
- 1842 - St. Margaret's Girls School is founded by Maria Tarn Dyer, the first and oldest all girls' school in Singapore
- 1843 - Thomas Dunman, the first full-time police chief of Singapore, improves the police force as well as the pay and working hours of policemen.
- 1844 - The Tan Tock Seng Hospital begins operation.
- 1844 March 4 - Raffles Girls' School is established.
- 1852 - A new deep harbour called New Harbour, later known as Keppel Harbour, is built.
- 1858 - Singapore is placed under the hierarchy of the Government of India, remaining as part of the Straits Settlements.
- 1858 - Commercial Square is renamed Raffles Place.
- 1859 - The Singapore Botanic Gardens is founded.
- 1867 April 1 - Straits Settlements become a crown colony of British Empire.
- 1869 - The Suez Canal opens, and Singapore enjoys the increase in trade
- 1877 - The Chinese Protectorate is set up, and William Pickering becomes the head of it.
- 1885 - Gan Eng Seng School was established at Telok Ayer Street
- 1886 - Anglo-Chinese School established.
- 1887 - Methodist Girls' School established.
- 1887 - The Raffles Hotel is built.
- 1888 - Henry Ridley becomes the director of the Singapore Botanic Gardens.
- 1888 - The Singapore Fire Brigade was formed.
- 1892 - The Tanjong Pagar Police Station opens, and many Sikh policemen are recruited.
- 1899 - Singapore Chinese Girls' School established.
[edit] 1900-1939
- 1906 - The Nanyang branch of Tongmenghui is set up in Singapore.
- 1906 - Tao Nan School established by the Hokkien Huay Kuan.
- 1912 - The Singapore Harbour Board is set up.
- 1915 February 15-February 25 - The Singapore Mutiny occurred as British Muslim Indian sepoys rose up against the British.
- 1917 - Nanyang Girls' High School was established by Tan Chor Nam , partially due to Dr Sun Yat Sen's belief in education for girls.
- 1919 - The Chinese High School established by Tan Kah Kee.
- 1922 - Singapore becomes the main British naval base in East Asia.
- 1935 - Catholic High School, the first bicultural and bilingual school in Singapore, was founded.
[edit] 1940s
- 1941 December 7 - In an extensive three-pronged attack, Japan opens hostilities with the Allies and their colonies, Singapore suffers immense air raids from this point onwards until February 15. The Imperial Japanese Army invades Malaya.
- 1941 December 10 - The British battleship HMS Prince of Wales and battlecruiser HMS Repulse are sunk by Japanese bombers.
- 1942 January 31 - Malaya falls to the Japanese and the causeway is blown up to delay Japan's advancement to Singapore.
- 1942 February 8 - Japanese soldiers along the Straits of Johor start firing at Singapore.
- 1942 February 9 - The Japanese cross the Strait of Johor by inflatable boats and land in Singapore during the Battle of Singapore.
- 1942 February 11 - The Japanese and Allied soldiers fight fiercely at Bukit Timah.
- 1942 February 13 - The Malay regiment, led by Lt. Adnan bin Saidi, fight bravely against the Japanese at Pasir Panjang Ridge in the Battle of Pasir Panjang.
- 1942 February 14 - The Japanese have captured most of Singapore, and most of the population is crammed into the city centre.
- 1942 February 15 - The British surrenders and the Japanese Occupation of Singapore starts. Singapore is renamed Syonan (Light of the South).
- 1942 February-March - The Japanese military police, the Kempei Tai kills an estimated between 25,000 to 50,000 people during Sook Ching Massacre.
- 1944 March - Lim Bo Seng is captured by the Japanese, and dies after 3 months of torture.
- 1945 August 14 Japan surrenders, and there is anomie and looting for nearly a month when the British do not return immediately.
- 1945 September 5 - The British return to Singapore after the end of World War II and begin a military administration of the Straits Settlements.
- 1946 April 1 - The Straits Settlements is dissolved and Singapore becomes a separate crown colony.
- 1947 May - Severe food shortage leads to record-low rice ration, causing malnutrition, disease and outbreak of crime and violence.
- 1947 - A large number of strikes occur causing stoppages in public transport, public services and the harbour.
- 1948 - Rubber plantations and tin mines in Malaya are destroyed by communists, and the British declares the state of Emergency over Singapore and Malaya.
- 1948 March 20 - Singapore's first limited election is held, with 6 seats in the Legislative Council. The Singapore Progressive Party wins 3 seats.
- 1948 June 18 - Malayan Emergency begins, Singapore declared a State of Emergency a week later.
- 1949 - The University of Malaya is formed following the merger of Raffles College and King Edward Medical College.
[edit] 1950s
- 1950 December 11-December 13 - 18 people are killed during the Maria Hertogh riots.
- 1951 - The number of elected seats is increased to 9 in the second election.
- 1953 - Rendel Commission is appointed to make recommendations for Singapore's self-government.
- 1954 May - Chinese school students demonstrate against the British due to the National Service proposal. See Anti-National Service Riots
- 1955 May 12 - Four people are killed during the Hock Lee bus riots.
- 1955 April 2 - The Labour Front wins the most seats in election and David Saul Marshall becomes the first Chief Minister as Singapore.
- 1956 June - David Saul Marshall appeals to the United Kingdom for full self-government, but resigns when he fails. Lim Yew Hock takes over as Chief Minister.
- 1956 October - Riots by pro-communist Chinese school students occur when government closes down a student union.
- 1956 - River Valley High School (formally known as Singapore Government Chinese Middle School), became the first Chinese secondary school established by the government.
- 1957 March - Lim Yew Hock successfully gains full self-government for Singapore.
- 1959 May - People's Action Party (PAP) wins the General Election and Lee Kuan Yew becomes the first Prime Minister.
- 1959 - Encik Yusof bin Ishak becomes the Head of State of Singapore.
- 1959 June 3 - A celebration is held at the Padang for Singapore gaining full self-government.
- 1959 December 3 - The national anthem Majulah Singapura, written by Zubir Said, is presented.
[edit] 1960s
- 1960 - The Housing and Development Board is set up.
- 1961 May 25 - The Bukit Ho Swee Fire kills four people and destroys 2,200 attap houses.
- 1961 May 27 - Tunku Abdul Rahman, the Prime Minister of Malaya, proposes a merger between Singapore, Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak.
- 1962 September 1 - A referendum is held in Singapore to vote on merger with Malaysia.
- 1963 February - During Operation Coldstore, 107 left-wing politicians and trade unionists are arrested by Internal Security Department
- 1963 July 9 - The Malaysia Agreement is signed between leaders of Malaya, Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak.
- 1963 August 31 - In this Malaysia Solidarity Day, Lee Kuan Yew declares the Independence for Singapore.
- 1963 September 16 -- Malaysia is formed. Indonesia carries out its konfrontasi campaign.
- 1963 September 21 - The PAP wins the 1963 State Elections, defeating the Barisan Sosialis and UMNO.
- 1964 The PAP wins one seat in the Malaysian Federal Election. UMNO is outraged.
- 1964 July 21 - There is an ethnic riot between various Malays and Chinese, on Prophet Muhammad's birthday, 23 people are killed.
- 1965 March 10 - Indonesian saboteurs carry out the MacDonald House bombing, killing three people.
- 1965 May - Lee Kuan Yew begins campaigning for a Malaysian Malaysia
- 1965 August 7 - Singapore and Malaysia sign the separation agreement.
- 1965 August 9 - The Malaysian Parliament votes to expel Singapore from the Federation; Singapore becomes independent after separating from Malaysia.
- 1965 September 21 - Singapore is admitted into the United Nations as the 117th member.
- 1965 October - Singapore becomes the 22nd member of the Commonwealth.
- 1965 December 22 - Constitutional Amendment Act is passed and Yusof bin Ishak becomes the first President of Singapore.
- 1967 February 15 - The Civilian Memorial is unveiled at the Kranji War Cemetery
- 1967 March 14 - The National Service bill is passed in the parliament.
- 1967 March 28 - Registrations for national service begins at the Central Manpower Base.
- 1967 June 12 - The issue of the first Singapore Dollar.
- 1967 July - The first batch of the army is drafted for national service.
- 1967 August 8- Singapore is the founding member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
- 1968 January - Britain announces its intention to withdraw its armed forces from Singapore.
- 1968 April - The PAP wins all seats in the 1968 General Election, which is boycotted by Barisan Sosialis.
- 1969 May 31 - The 1969 Race Riots of Singapore broke out after growing tension of the May 13 Incident in Malaysia spilled over to Singapore.
[edit] 1970s
- 1970 May - The National Junior College, Singapore's first junior college, opens.
- 1971 January 2 - Dr Benjamin Henry Sheares becomes the second President of Singapore.
- 1971 October 31 - The last British military forces withdraws from Singapore.
- 1972 September 2 - The PAP wins the 1972 General Election.
- 1972 - The Singapore Airlines is formed.
- 1973 - The first Chingay Parade is held in Singapore.
- 1973 - The construction of the National Stadium is completed.
- 1973 - The Presidential Council for Minority Rights is set up to ensure minority would not be discriminated.
- 1974 - Hwa Chong Junior College, Singapore's first government-aided junior college and the premiere institution of the nation, was established.
- 1974 January 31 - Laju incident: Japanese Red Army bombs petroleum tanks at Pulau Bukom and hijacks a ferry boat.
- 1976 - The PAP wins all 69 seats in the 1976 General Election.
- 1978 - October 12 - Spyros disaster
- 1979 - Singapore becomes the world's second busiest port in terms of shipping tonnage.
[edit] 1980s
- 1980 - The PAP wins all 75 seats in the 1980 General Election.
- 1981 July 1 - Singapore Changi Airport starts operation.
- 1981 October 24 - C V Devan Nair becomes the third President of Singapore.
- 1981 October 31 - Workers' Party of Singapore's Joshua Benjamin Jeyaretnam elected into Parliament, breaking a 16 years PAP monopoly of the House.
- 1982 - The Courtesy Campaign and the Civil Defence Programme are launched.
- 1983 29 January - Eniwetok, a Panamanian-registered oil rig, hits the Singapore Cable Car system, sending two cabins plunging into the sea and killing seven people.
- 1984 - The PAP wins the 1984 General Election while two members of the opposition parties are elected as members of parliament. Three PAP women MPs are also elected, ending a 16 years absence of women representation in Parliament.
- 1984 - Non-Constituency Member of Parliament was introduced.
- 1985 September 2 - Wee Kim Wee becomes the fourth President of Singapore.
- 1986 March 15 - The Hotel New World collapses, killing 33 people.
- 1987 May 21 - 16 people were arrested during Operation Spectrum and detained under the Internal Security Act. Another six were arrested on June 20.
- 1988 September 3 - The PAP wins the 1988 General Election and group representation constituencies (GRC)s are introduced.
[edit] 1990s
- 1990 July 6 - The East West Line of the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) is completed.
- 1990 November 22 - Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 2 begins operation.
- 1990 November 28 - Goh Chok Tong becomes the second Prime Minister of Singapore.
- 1991 March 26 - Four Pakistanis hijack Singapore Airlines Flight 117 and demand the release of Pakistan Peoples Party members from Pakistani jails.
- 1991 March 27 - Members of the Singapore Special Operations Force storm into Singapore Airlines Flight 117, killing all hijackers and freeing all passengers and crew members.
- 1993 September 1 - Ong Teng Cheong becomes the first directly-elected President.
- 1994 May 5 - American teenager Michael P. Fay is convicted and caned for vandalism.
- 1996 - The parliament passes the Maintenance of Parents law, a private member's bill introduced by Woon Cheong Ming Walter.
- 1997 December 19 - Silkair Flight 185 crashes into Musi River near Palembang, Sumatra, killing all 104 people onboard.
- 1998 January 15 - Singapore and United States announces agreement for US ships to use a planned $35 million naval base from 2000.
- 1998 September - "The Singapore Story", the first volume of Lee Kuan Yew's memoirs is published
- 1999 - Sellapan Ramanathan becomes the President of Singapore
- 1999 - Singapore slips into recession during the Asian financial crisis.
[edit] 2000s
- 2000 September 1 - Speaker's Corner is launched at Hong Lim Park
- 2000 October 31 - Singapore Airlines Flight 006 crashes during take-off in Chiang Kai Shek International Airport, killing 83 people.
- 2001–2003 - Economic recession in Singapore.
- 2001 January - A pipeline feeding gas to Singapore from Indonesia's Natuna field in South China Sea opens.
- 2001 November 3 - The PAP wins 82 of 84 seats in the 2001 General Election.
- 2001 December 9 - 15 suspected militants of Jemaah Islamiah are arrested for alleged bomb plot.
- 2001 December 27 - Typhoon Vamei, a rare typhoon that occurs only once in 100 to 400 years, hits Singapore.
- 2002 January 13 - Singapore and Japan sign the Japan-Singapore Economic Agreement.
- 2003 April - SARS virus outbreak in Singapore and other parts of Asia.
- 2003 May 6 - Singapore and United States sign the United States-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (USS-FTA).
- 2003 October 29 - A major research center Biopolis opens.
- 2004 April 20 - A section of Nicoll Highway collapses, killing 4 people.
- 2004 - National Service was reduced from two and half years to two years.
- 2004 August 12 - Lee Hsien Loong becomes the third Prime Minister.
- 2005 January 15 - Singapore and Malaysia settle dispute over land reclamation work.
- 2005 April 18 - Singapore government approves plan to legalise casino gambling and build two Integrated Resorts.
- 2005 July 8 - In the aftermath of the 7 July 2005 London bombings, Transport Minister Yeo Cheow Tong announces plan to set up a new Police MRT Unit to enhance the security of Singapore's public transport. (CNA)
- 2005 August 17 - S R Nathan returns for his second term as President, following a walkover in the Singapore presidential election, 2005.
- 2005 August 27 - White Elephant Incident at Buangkok MRT Station.
- 2006 May 6 - The PAP, led by Lee Hsien Loong, wins 82 of 84 seats in the 2006 General Election.
- 2008 January 9 - Singapore Changi Airport opens its third passenger terminal.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Timeline of Singapore's History, compiled by students of Raffles Girls' School.
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