What is the major events in Singapore's history?

Answer 1

Before 1800

• 10,000 B.C. - 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 sends 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 burn down a trading outpost at the mouth of Singapore River.
• 1 700

1800-1899

• 1819 - 29 January - Stamford Raffles arrives in Singapore with William Farquhar to establish a trading post for the British East India Company.
• 1819 - 6 February - 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 - Dr John Crawfurd takes over as Resident.
• 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 - 4 March - Raffles Girls' School is established.
• 1845 - The Straits Times is established.
• 1852 - A new deep harbour called New Harbour, later known as Keppel Harbour, is built. St Joseph's Institution [as St John's Institution] established.
• 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 - 1 April - 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

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 - 15-25 February - 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.
• 1932 - Tanjong Pagar Railway Station is opened.
• 1935 - Catholic High School, the first bicultural and bilingual school in Singapore, was founded.
• 1937 - 12 June - Kallang Airport is opened.

1940s

• 1941 - 7/8 December - In an extensive three-pronged attack, Japan opens hostilities with the Allies and their colonies. First air raid on Singapore at 4:15 am. The Imperial Japanese Army invades Malaya.
• 1941 - 10 December - The British battleship HMS Prince of Wales and battlecruiser HMS Repulse are sunk by Japanese bombers.
• 1941 - 31 December - The Straits Chinese Volunteer Corps (Dalforce) is set up in Singapore, led by Tan Kah Kee.
• 1942 - 1 January - Second air raid on Singapore at night, after a three-week hiatus. Nightly raids commence thereafter.
• 1942 - 12 January - First daylight air raid on Singapore. Henceforth, the island is bombed both day and night, everyday.
• 1942 - 31 January - Malaya falls to the Japanese and the Causeway is blown up to delay Japan's advancement to Singapore.
• 1942 - 1 February - The siege of Singapore begins. The Japanese in Johor Bahru begin shelling the island daily in addition to daily aerial bombing.
• 1942 - 9 February - The Japanese cross the Strait of Johor by inflatable boats and land in Singapore during the Battle of Singapore.
• 1942 - 11 February - The Japanese and Allied soldiers fight fiercely at Bukit Timah.
• 1942 - 13 February - 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 - 14 February - The Japanese have captured most of Singapore, and most of the population is crammed into the city centre.
• 1942 - 15 February - 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 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 - 14 August Japan surrenders, and there is anomie and looting for nearly a month when the British do not return immediately.
• 1945 - 5 September - The British return to Singapore after the end of World War II and begin a military administration of the Straits Settlements.
• 1946 - 1 April - 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 - 20 March - Singapore's first limited election is held, with 6 seats in the Legislative Council. The Singapore Progressive Party wins 3 seats.
• 1948 - 18 June - 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 - 11-13 December - 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 - 12 May - Four people are killed during the Hock Lee bus riots.
• 1955 - 2 April - The Labour Front wins the most seats in election and David Saul Marshall becomes the first Chief Minister of 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, Singapore (formally known as Singapore Government Chinese Middle School), became the first Chinese secondary school established by the government.
• 1959 - 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 - 3 June - A celebration is held at the Padang for Singapore gaining full self-government.
• 1959 - 3 December - The national anthem Majulah Singapura, written by Zubir Said, is presented.

1960s

• 1960 - The Housing and Development Board is set up.
• 1961 - 25 May - The Bukit Ho Swee Fire kills four people and destroys 2,200 attap houses.
• 1961 - 27 May - Tunku Abdul Rahman, the Prime Minister of Malaya, proposes a merger between Singapore, Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak.
• 1962 - 1 September - 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 - 9 July - The Malaysia Agreement is signed between leaders of Malaya, Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak.
• 1963 - 31 August - In this Malaysia Solidarity Day, Lee Kuan Yew declares the Independence for Singapore.
• 1963 - 16 September - Malaysia is formed. Indonesia carries out its konfrontasi campaign.
• 1963 - 21 September - 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 - 21 July - There is an ethnic riot between various Malays and Chinese, on Prophet Muhammad's birthday, 23 people are killed.
• 1965 - 10 March - Indonesian saboteurs carry out the MacDonald House bombing, killing three people.
• 1965 - May - Lee Kuan Yew begins campaigning for a Malaysian Malaysia
• 1965 - 7 August - Singapore and Malaysia sign the separation agreement.
• 1965 - 9 August - The Malaysian Parliament votes to expel Singapore from the Federation; Singapore becomes independent after separating from Malaysia.
• 1965 - 21 September - Singapore is admitted into the United Nations as the 117th member.
• 1965 - October - Singapore becomes the 22nd member of the Commonwealth.
• 1965 - 22 December - Constitutional Amendment Act is passed and Yusof bin Ishak becomes the first President of Singapore.
• 1967 - 15 February - The Civilian Memorial is unveiled at the Kranji War Cemetery
• 1967 - 14 March - The National Service bill is passed in the parliament.
• 1967 - 28 March - Registrations for national service begins at the Central Manpower Base.
• 1967 - 12 June - The issue of the first Singapore Dollar.
• 1967 - July - The first batch of the army is drafted for national service.
• 1967 - 8 August- 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 - 31 May - The 1969 Race Riots of Singapore broke out after growing tension of the 13 May Incident in Malaysia spilled over to Singapore.

1970s

• 1970 - May - The National Junior College, Singapore's first junior college, opens.
• 1971 - 2 January - Dr Benjamin Henry Sheares becomes the second President of Singapore.
• 1971 - 31 October - The last British military forces withdraws from Singapore.
• 1972 - 2 September - 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 - 31 January - 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 - 12 October - 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 - 1 July - Singapore Changi Airport starts operation.
• 1981 - 24 October - C V Devan Nair becomes the third President of Singapore.
• 1981 - 31 October - 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 - 2 September - Wee Kim Wee becomes the fourth President of Singapore.
• 1986 - 15 March - The Hotel New World collapses, killing 33 people.
• 1987 - 21 May - 16 people were arrested during Operation Spectrum and detained under the Internal Security Act. Another six were arrested on 20 June.
• 1988 - 3 September - The PAP wins the 1988 General Election and group representation constituencies (GRC)s are introduced.

1990s

• 1990 - 6 July - The East West Line of the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) is completed.
• 1990 - 22 November - Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 2 begins operation.
• 1990 - 28 November - Goh Chok Tong becomes the second Prime Minister of Singapore.
• 1991 - 26 March - Four Pakistanis hijack Singapore Airlines Flight 117 and demand the release of Pakistan Peoples Party members from Pakistani jails.
• 1991 - 27 March - Members of the Singapore Special Operations Force storm into Singapore Airlines Flight 117, killing all hijackers and freeing all passengers and crew members.
• 1993 - 1 September - Ong Teng Cheong becomes the first directly-elected President.
• 1994 - 5 May - 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 Nominated Member of Parliament Woon Cheong Ming Walter.
• 1997 - 19 December - Silkair Flight 185 crashes into Musi River near Palembang, Sumatra, killing all 104 people onboard.
• 1998 - 15 January - 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 - 1 September - Speaker's Corner is launched at Hong Lim Park
• 2000 - 31 October - 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 - 3 November - The PAP wins 82 of 84 seats in the 2001 General Election.
• 2001 - 9 December - 15 suspected militants of Jemaah Islamiah are arrested for alleged bomb plot.
• 2001 - 27 December - Typhoon Vamei, a rare typhoon that occurs only once in 100 to 400 years, hits Singapore.
• 2002 - 13 January - Singapore and Japan sign the Japan-Singapore Economic Agreement.
• 2003 - April - SARS virus outbreak in Singapore and other parts of Asia.
• 2003 - 6 May - Singapore and United States sign the United States-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (USS-FTA).
• 2003 - 29 October - A major research center Biopolis opens.
• 2004 - 20 April - A section of Nicoll Highway collapses, killing 4 people.
• 2004 - National Service was reduced from two and half years to two years.
• 2004 - 12 August - Lee Hsien Loong, Lee Kuan Yew's Son becomes the third Prime Minister.
• 2005 - 15 January - Singapore and Malaysia settle dispute over land reclamation work.
• 2005 - 18 April - Singapore government approves plan to legalise casino gambling and build two Integrated Resorts.
• 2005 - 8 July - 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 - 17 August - S R Nathan returns for his second term as President, following a walkover in the Singapore presidential election, 2005.
• 2005 - 27 August - White Elephant Incident at Buangkok MRT Station.
• 2006 - 6 May - The PAP, led by Lee Hsien Loong, wins 82 of 84 seats in the General Election.
• 2008 - 9 January - Singapore Changi Airport opens its third passenger terminal.
• 2008 - 21 March - Jemiah Islamiah terrorist head Mas Selamat bin Kastari escapes from prison.
• 2008 - September- Singapore slips into recession due to the global financial crisis. World economies hit badly; banks around the world collapse.
• 2008 - 16 October - Singapore government guarantees all local and foreign currency fixed deposits with a $ 150 billion pool for that in view of the financial crisis, joining governments around the world in doing so.