Timeline of Singaporean history

This is a timeline of the history of Singapore. For more detailed annual listings, see List of years in Singapore.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. [http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/157138/1/.html (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.
* 2008 March 21 - Jemiah Islamiah terrorist head Mas Selamat bin Kastari escapes from prison. He still cannot be found. If you see him, please take note of the time, the direction he was going and all other important information and call the police IMMEDIATELY at 999 and tell the person in charge all the information.

ee also

*List of years in Singapore

External links

* [http://www.rgs.edu.sg/aec/timeline.html Timeline of Singapore's History] , compiled by students of Raffles Girls' School.