Year | Date | Event |
1905 | 1 June | Singapore change its time zone to GMT+07:00 from the original GMT+6hr 55m 25s. |
1906 | | The Nanyang branch of Tongmenghui was set up in Singapore. |
1913 | 1 July | The Singapore Harbour board was 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 and Teo Eng Hock, partially due to Dr Sun Yat Sen's belief in education for girls, in Dhoby Ghaut.[11] |
14 June | Nan Hua High School by Mr Xiong Shangfu, its campus in Coleman Street, and it was once a base for the Japanese soldiers during the Japanese occupation. |
1919 | 21 March | The Chinese High School established by Tan Kah Kee in Niven Road. |
1923 | | Singapore starts constructing the main British naval base in East Asia. |
1929 | | Singapore Police Academy was established at Mount Pleasant Road. |
1932 | 15 January | Tanjong Pagar Railway Station commenced operation. |
| Jalan Besar Stadium open to the public. |
1933 | 1 January | Singapore change its time zone to GMT+07:20. |
16 January | CHIJ Saint Nicholas Girls' School, Singapore's only bilingual and bicultural IJ school, was founded. |
1935 | | Catholic High School was established. |
1937 | 12 June | Kallang Airport was opened. |
1938 | | Alexandra Hospital was established. |
| Singapore completes the main British naval base, which is the largest drydock and third largest floating dock in the world. |
1939 | | Chung Cheng High School (Main) was established in Kim Yam Road. |
1941 | 1 September | Singapore change its time zone to GMT+07:30. |
7 – 8 December | In an extensive three-pronged attack, Japan opens hostilities with the countries that opposed the Axis powers and their colonies. First air raid on Singapore at 4:15 am. The Imperial Japanese Army invades Malaya. |
10 December | The British battleship HMS Prince of Wales and battlecruiser HMS Repulse are sunk by Japanese bombers. |
16 December | Second air raid on Singapore, at night. Only RAF Tengah is attacked. |
25 December | A lone Japanese aircraft drops propaganda pamphlets on Singapore Island. |
29 December | Second Japanese air raid on Singapore City (and third on the island), at night. Nightly raids commence. |
30 December | The Overseas Chinese Mobilization Council is set up in Singapore, led by Tan Kah Kee. |
1942 | 12 January | First major daylight air raid on Singapore. Henceforth, the island is bombed everyday up to the British surrender (with the exception of 19 January). |
31 January | Malaya falls to the Japanese and the Causeway is blown up to delay Japan's advancement to Singapore. |
1 February | The siege of Singapore begins. The Japanese in Johor Bahru begin shelling the island daily in addition to daily aerial bombing. |
8 February | The Japanese cross the Strait of Johor by inflatable boats and land in Singapore during the Battle of Singapore. |
11 February | The Japanese and Allied soldiers fight fiercely at Bukit Timah. |
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. |
14 February | The Japanese have captured most of Singapore, and most of the population is crammed into the city centre. |
15 February | The British surrenders and the Japanese Occupation of Singapore starts. Singapore is renamed Syonan-to (Light of the South Island). |
Singapore change its time zone to GMT+09:00 to be the same as Japan. |
18 February – 4 March | The Japanese military police, the Kempei Tai kills an estimated 25,000 to 50,000 people during Sook Ching Massacre. |
1943 | 27 September | Operation Jaywick occurred. Seven Japanese ships are bombed at Clifford Pier. |
10 October | The Japanese initiate the Double Tenth Incident in response to Operation Jaywick, by launching a fierce crackdown on anti-Japanese elements and Allied prisoners-of-war in Singapore. |
1944 | 27 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. |
5 September | The British return to Singapore after the end of World War II and begin a military administration of the Straits Settlements. |
12 September | Singapore revert its time zone back to the pre-war time of GMT+07:30. |
1946 | 1 April | The Straits Settlements is dissolved and Singapore becomes a separate crown colony. |
The Legislative Council of the Colony of Singapore was formed. |
1947 | | A large number of strikes occur causing stoppages in public transport, public services and the harbour. |
May | Severe food shortage leads to record-low rice ration, causing malnutrition, disease and outbreak of crime and violence. |
1948 | | Rubber plantations and tin mines in Malaya are destroyed by communists, and the British declares the state of Emergency over Singapore and Malaya. |
20 March | Singapore's first "limited elections" held (representation with no specific areas of responsibility); 6 seats in Legislative Council, with Singapore Progressive Party winning 3 seats. |
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. |
1950 | 11 – 13 December | 18 people are killed during the Maria Hertogh riots. |
1951 | 10 April | 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 | 13 May | Chinese school students demonstrate against the British due to the National Service proposal. See Anti-National Service Riots |
1955 | 2 April | Second general elections (limited self-government) held. The Labour Front wins the most seats and David Saul Marshall became the first Chief Minister of Singapore. |
12 May | Four people are killed during the Hock Lee bus riots. |
20 August | Kallang Airport ceased operation. Paya Lebar Airport started operation. |
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. |
October | Riots by pro-communist Chinese school students occur when government closes down a student union. |
14 October | Dunman High School (formally known as Singapore Government Chinese Middle School), became the first Chinese secondary school established by the government. |
1957 | | Cedar Girls' Secondary School was founded. |
1959 | March | Lim Yew Hock successfully gains full self-government for Singapore. |
30 May | 3rd general elections (limited self-government) held. People's Action Party wins 43 of 51 seats and Lee Kuan Yew became the first Prime Minister. |
3 June | A celebration is held at the Padang for Singapore gaining full self-government. |
3 December | The national anthem Majulah Singapura, written by Zubir Said, is presented. |
Encik Yusof bin Ishak becomes the Head of State of Singapore. |
1960 | 1 February | The Housing and Development Board is set up. |
8 September | Tan Howe Liang became Singapore's first Olympic medalist. He finished second among 35 competitors in the lightweight category in weightlifting at the 1960 games held in Rome, Italy.[12] |
1961 | 25 May | The Bukit Ho Swee Fire kills four people and destroys 2,200 attap houses.[13] |
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 | 2 February | During Operation Coldstore, 107 left-wing politicians and trade unionists are arrested by Internal Security Department |
9 July | The Malaysia Agreement is signed between leaders of Malaya, Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak. |
31 August | In this Malaysia Solidarity Day, Lee Kuan Yew declares de facto Independence for Singapore. |
16 September | Malaysia is formed. Indonesia carries out its konfrontasi campaign. |
21 September | The PAP wins the 1963 State Elections, defeating the Barisan Sosialis and UMNO. |
1964 | 25 April | The PAP wins one seat in the Malaysian Federal Election. UMNO is outraged. |
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. |
May | Lee Kuan Yew begins campaigning for a Malaysian Malaysia |
7 August | Singapore and Malaysia sign the separation agreement. |
9 August | The Malaysian Parliament votes to expel Singapore from the Federation; Singapore becomes independent after separating from Malaysia. |
21 September | Singapore is admitted into the United Nations as the 117th member.[14] |
15 October | Singapore becomes the 23rd member of the Commonwealth.[15] |
22 December | Constitutional Amendment Act is passed and Encik Yusof bin Ishak becomes the first President of Singapore. |
1966 | 3 August | Singapore became the 104th member of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank.[16] |
24 August | The first daily recitation of the pledge of allegiance before the national flag was taken by 500,000 students at all 529 government and aided schools.[17] |
1967 | | The Civilian Memorial is unveiled at the Kranji War Cemetery |
14 March | The National Service bill is passed in the parliament.[18] |
28 March – 18 April | Registrations for national service begins at the Central Manpower Base.[18] |
12 June | The issue of the first Singapore Dollar.[19] |
8 August | Singapore joined the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as one of the founding members.[20] |
17 August | The first batch of the army is drafted for national service.[18] |
1968 | January | Britain announces its intention to withdraw its armed forces from Singapore. |
19 April | The PAP wins all seats in the 1968 General Election, which is boycotted by Barisan Sosialis. |
| National Archives was established. |
1969 | 20 January | The National Junior College, Singapore's first junior college was established. |
31 May | The 1969 Race Riots of Singapore broke out after growing tension of the 13 May Incident in Malaysia spilled over to Singapore. |
1970 | 23 November | Encik Yusof bin Ishak, first President of Singapore passed away while in office. |
1971 | 2 January | Dr Benjamin Henry Sheares becomes the second President of Singapore. |
31 October | The last British military forces withdraws from Singapore. |
1972 | 2 September | The PAP wins the 1972 General Election. |
1 October | The Singapore Airlines is formed. |
1973 | 4 February | The first Chingay Parade is held in Singapore. |
14 July | The Presidential Council for Minority Rights is set up to ensure minority would not be discriminated. |
21 July | The construction of the National Stadium is completed and open in Kallang. |
| The construction of Jurong Town Hall is completed. |
1974 | 15 January | Hwa Chong Junior College, Singapore's first government-aided junior college was established. |
31 January | Laju incident: Japanese Red Army bombs petroleum tanks at Pulau Bukom and hijacks a ferry boat. |
1976 | 23 December | The PAP wins all 69 seats in the 1976 General Election. |
1978 | 12 October | Spyros disaster, was a major industrial disaster which claimed 76 lives. |
1979 | | Singapore becomes the world's second busiest port in terms of shipping tonnage. |
1980 | 23 December | The PAP wins all 75 seats in the 1980 General Election. |
1981 | 12 May | Dr Benjamin Henry Sheares (second President of Singapore) passed away while in office. |
1 July | Paya Lebar Airport ceased operation and Singapore Changi Airport starts operation. |
23 October | C V Devan Nair becomes the third President of Singapore. |
31 October | Workers' Party of Singapore's Joshua Benjamin Jeyaretnam elected into Parliament, breaking a 16 years PAP monopoly of the House. |
1982 | 1 January | Singapore change its time zone to UTC+08:00. |
| The Courtesy Campaign and the Civil Defence Programme are launched. |
1983 | 29 January | (Singapore Cable Car disaster) Eniwetok, a Panamanian-registered oil rig, hits the Singapore Cable Car system, sending two cabins plunging into the sea and killing seven people. |
1984 | 22 August | Non-Constituency Member of Parliament was introduced. |
22 December | 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. |
1985 | 28 March | C V Devan Nair stepped down as the third President of Singapore. |
2 September | Wee Kim Wee becomes the fourth President of Singapore. |
| Singapore went into its first ever recession which was induced by government policies. |
1986 | 15 March | Hotel New World collapses, killing 100 people (injuries fatal victim 67 people and death 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. |
1990 | 6 July | The East West Line of the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) is completed. |
22 November | Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 2 begins operation. |
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. |
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. |
31 August | General elections are held. The result is a victory for the PAP, which wins 77 out of 81 seats. |
1993 | August | National Archives of Singapore was formed. |
1 September | Ong Teng Cheong becomes the first elected President and fifth President of Singapore. |
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 | 2 January | PAP led by Goh Chok Tong wins a total of 81 out of 83 seats in the 1997 general election. |
19 December | Silkair Flight 185 crashes into Musi River near Palembang, Sumatra, killing all 104 people on board. |
1998 | 15 January | Singapore and United States announces agreement for US ships to use a planned $35 million naval base from 2000. |
September | "The Singapore Story", the first volume of Lee Kuan Yew's memoirs is published. (The Singapore Story: Memoirs of Lee Kuan Yew. ISBN 978-0130208033.
) |
1999 | 1 September | S.R. Nathan becomes the sixth President of Singapore. |
| Singapore slips into recession during the Asian financial crisis. |
2000 | 1 September | Speaker's Corner is launched at Hong Lim Park. |
31 October | Singapore Airlines Flight 006 crashes during take-off in Chiang Kai Shek International Airport, killing 83 people. |
| "From Third World to First, The Singapore Story 1965-2000" the second volume of Lee Kuan Yew is published. (From Third World to First, The Singapore Story 1965-2000. ISBN 978-9812049841.
) |