History of Singapore

Kingdom of Singapura, 1299–1398 Draft, not yet reviewed

The Kingdom of Singapura was a Malay polity believed to have been founded as a Hindu-Buddhist kingdom during the early history of Singapore on the island of Temasek. The historicity of this kingdom based on the account given in the Malay Annals is uncertain. Archaeological evidence from Fort Canning Hill and the nearby banks of the Singapore River has nevertheless demonstrated the existence of a thriving settlement and a trade port in the 14th century. The kingdom's fortified capital was attacked by at least two major foreign invasions before it was finally sacked by Majapahit in 1398 according to the Malay Annals or by the Siamese according to Portuguese sources.

Seat of power: Singapore

Straits Settlements, 1826–1946 Draft, not yet reviewed

The Straits Settlements were a group of British territories located in Southeast Asia. Originally established in 1826 as part of the territories controlled by the British East India Company, the Straits Settlements came under control of the British Raj in 1858 and then under direct British control as a Crown colony in 1867. The Straits Settlements originally consisted of the four individual settlements of Penang, Singapore, Malacca and Dinding. In 1946, following the end of World War II and the Japanese occupation, the colony was dissolved as part of Britain's reorganisation of its Southeast Asian dependencies in the area.

Seat of power: Singapore

Colony of Singapore, 1946–1959 Draft, not yet reviewed

The Colony of Singapore was a Crown colony of the United Kingdom that encompassed what is modern-day Singapore from 1946 to 1959. The colony was created when the Straits Settlements was dissolved shortly after the Japanese occupation of Singapore ended in 1945. The power of the British Government was vested in the governor of Singapore. The colony eventually gained partial internal self-governance in 1955, and lasted until the establishment of the State of Singapore in 1958, with full internal self-governance granted in 1959.

Seat of power: Singapore

Rulers

• Robert Brown Black, Governor of Singapore, 1955–1957

Singapore in Federation of Malaysia, 1963–1965 Draft, not yet reviewed

Singapore, officially the State of Singapore, was one of the 14 states of Malaysia from 16 September 1963 to 9 August 1965. Malaysia was formed on 16 September 1963 through the merger of the Federation of Malaya with the former British colonies of North Borneo, Sarawak and Singapore. Through the 1962 integration referendum and the Malaysia Agreement, Singapore was given higher autonomy in education and labour, with the Federal Government in Kuala Lumpur overseeing defence and external affairs. The Separation Agreement was signed on 7 August 1965, and Singapore became a sovereign state on 9 August.

Seat of power: Singapore

Rulers

• Yusof bin Ishak, Yang di-Pertuan Negara of Singapore, 1959–1965

Republic of Singapore, 1965 to today Draft, not yet reviewed

Singapore, officially the Republic of Singapore, is an island country in Southeast Asia. Singapore gained self-governance in 1959 and in 1963 became part of the new federation of Malaysia, alongside Malaya, North Borneo and Sarawak. Ideological differences led to Singapore's expulsion from the federation two years later; it became an independent sovereign country in 1965. Singapore is a parliamentary republic and its legal system is based on common law.

Seat of power: Singapore

Rulers

• Yusof bin Ishak, President of Singapore, 1965–1970
• Punch Coomaraswamy, President of Singapore, 1968–1968
• Yeoh Ghim Seng, President of Singapore, 1970–1971
• Benjamin Sheares, President of Singapore, 1971–1981
• Devan Nair, President of Singapore, 1981–1985
• Yeoh Ghim Seng, President of Singapore, 1981–1981
• Wee Kim Wee, President of Singapore, 1985–1993
• Yeoh Ghim Seng, President of Singapore, 1985–1985
• Ong Teng Cheong, President of Singapore, 1993–1999
• S. R. Nathan, President of Singapore, 1999–2011
• Tony Tan Keng Yam, President of Singapore, 2011–2017
• Halimah Yacob, President of Singapore, 2017–2023
• Tharman Shanmugaratnam, President of Singapore, 2023 to today