History of Singapore

The ancient name for Singapore, meaning 'Sea Town' or 'Sea Port,' used before the arrival of the British.

British statesman who established a trading post for the British East India Company on Singapore Island in 1819, marking the beginning of modern Singapore.

A British colonial administrative unit formed in 1826, comprising Penang, Malacca, and Singapore, governed by the British East India Company and later the Colonial Office.

The period from 1942 to 1945 when Singapore (then Syonan-to) was occupied by Imperial Japan during World War II, a time of significant hardship and change.

The name given to Singapore by the Japanese occupiers during World War II, meaning 'Light of the South.'

Achieved by Singapore in 1959, leading to its first general election and the People's Action Party (PAP) coming to power with Lee Kuan Yew as its first Prime Minister.

Singapore joined the Federation of Malaysia in 1963, along with Malaya, Sabah, and Sarawak, aiming for greater economic integration and political stability.

Due to political and economic disagreements, Singapore was expelled from Malaysia on August 9, 1965, becoming a fully independent sovereign nation.

Singapore's first Prime Minister (1959-1990) and a founding father, credited with leading the nation's rapid economic development and social transformation.

A term often used to describe Singapore's rapid industrialization and economic growth from the 1960s to the 1990s, alongside Hong Kong, South Korea, and Taiwan.