Lee Kuan Yew: A Chronology, 1923-1965

Lee Kuan Yew: A Chronology, 1923-1965

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

Note: This chronology is largely based upon Lee Kuan Yew. The Singapore Story: Memoirs of Lee Kuan Yew. Singapore: Times, 1998.

Last modified 18 January 2006;
Thanks to Murie Chow for pointing out an error.