Lee Kuan Yew: A Chronology, 1923-1965
<TABLE border=1 cellPadding=2><TBODY><TR><TD>September 16, 1923 </TD><TD>Lee Kuan Yew born in Singapore. </TD></TR><TR><TD>1936-1939 </TD><TD>Student at Raffles Institituion. </TD></TR><TR><TD>1940 </TD><TD>Comes in first in Singapore and Malaysia in Senior Cambridge exams, winning Anderson Scholarship to Raffles College. </TD></TR><TR><TD>1940-1942 </TD><TD>Student at Raffles College. </TD></TR><TR><TD>15 February, 1942 </TD><TD>Japanese occupation of Singapore begins. </TD></TR><TR><TD>February 18-22, 1942 </TD><TD>Japanese massacre between 50,000 and 100,000 Chinese Singaporeans. LKY
experiences and observes brutality of Japanese army. </TD></TR><TR><TD>May 1942 </TD><TD>The English-educated Lee begins to study both Chinese and Japanese. </TD></TR><TR><TD>1943-1944 </TD><TD>Works as English-language editor for Japanese "information or propaganda department called the
Hobudu," learning that Allies are winning war (63). </TD></TR><TR><TD>1944 </TD><TD>Black market commodities broker; manufactures adhesives. </TD></TR><TR><TD>1946 </TD><TD>Student at London School of Economics; encounters Harold Laski's socialism. </TD></TR><TR><TD>January 1947-1949 </TD><TD>Student at Fitzwilliam House, Cambridge University. </TD></TR><TR><TD>December 1947 </TD><TD>Secretly marries Kwa Geok Choo, who is in UK studying law at Girton College, Cambridge. </TD></TR><TR><TD>May-June 1949 </TD><TD>LKY and Kwa Geok Choo both awarded first-class honours degrees in law. </TD></TR><TR><TD>February 1950 </TD><TD>Assists campaign of David Widdicombe, a Cambridge friend, running as a Labour candidate for Parliament from Totnes, Devon. </TD></TR><TR><TD>May 1950 </TD><TD>LKY and Kwa Geok Choo pass bar exams; both called to the Bar at the Middle Temple on June 21: "Life was about to enter a new phase" (126).</TD></TR><TR><TD>August 1950 </TD><TD>Returns to Singapore. </TD></TR><TR><TD>September 1950 </TD><TD>Marries Kwa Geok Choo again in Singapore. </TD></TR><TR><TD>1950-1959 </TD><TD>Practices law; wins first trial as a barrister and becomes convinced of weakness of
jury system; advisor for trade unions. </TD></TR><TR><TD>November 1954 </TD><TD>
People's Action Party (PAP) founded. </TD></TR><TR><TD>April 1955 </TD><TD>Elected to Legislative Assembly first time. </TD></TR><TR><TD>May 1956 </TD><TD>Member first All-Party Constitutional Mission to London. </TD></TR><TR><TD>March 1957 </TD><TD>Member second All-Party Constitutional Mission to London. </TD></TR><TR><TD>August 31, 1957 </TD><TD>Federation of Malaysia achieves independence. </TD></TR><TR><TD>May 1958 </TD><TD>Member third All-Party Constitutional Mission to London. </TD></TR><TR><TD>June 5, 1959 </TD><TD>Sworn in, at age 35, as Prime Minister of Singapore. </TD></TR><TR><TD>February 1960 </TD><TD>Housing and Development Board (HDB) established, which begins massive public-housing campaign. </TD></TR><TR><TD>July 1960 </TD><TD>Formed People's Association to mobilize grassroots support against communists. </TD></TR><TR><TD>September 1961 <TABLE><TBODY><TR><TD>Lee's radio talks urge merger with Malaysia. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD>September 1962 </TD><TD>Singapore referendum approves merger with Malaysia. </TD></TR><TR><TD>August 31, 1963 </TD><TD>Singapore declares independence, ahead of formation of Malaysia. </TD></TR><TR><TD>September 16, 1963 </TD><TD>Malaysia, which includes Malaya, Singapore, Sarawak, and Sabah, formed. </TD></TR><TR><TD>21 July 1964 </TD><TD>Ja'afar Albar's "racist agitation" causes riots in Singapore. </TD></TR><TR><TD>September 1964 </TD><TD>
Second outbreak of "communal violence." </TD></TR><TR><TD>May 1965 </TD><TD>PAP promotes a Malaysian -- ie, not simply Malay -- Malaysia. </TD></TR><TR><TD>August 9, 1965 </TD><TD>
Singapore separates from Malaysia. </TD></TR><TR><TD><!--< />--></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Note: This chronology is largely based upon Lee Kuan Yew.
The Singapore Story: Memoirs of Lee Kuan Yew. Singapore: Times, 1998.