This is a timeline of Singaporean history, comprising important legal and territorial changes and political events in Singapore and its predecessor states. To read about the background to these events, see History of Singapore. See also the list of years in Singapore.
The region was invaded and occupied by Rajendra Chola of the Chola empire in India, although there has been no record of them visiting the island itself.[1][2]
Nan Hua High School [as Nam Wah Girls' School] established by Mr Xiong Shangfu, its campus in Coleman Street, and it was once a base for the Japanese soldiers during the Japanese occupation.
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.
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
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.
24 June
Rubber plantations and tin mines in Malaya are destroyed by communists, and the British declares the state of Emergency over Singapore and Malaya. The emergency was officially lifted on 31 July 1960 by the Malayan government.[37]
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.
Dunman High School (formally known as Singapore Government Chinese Middle School), became the first Chinese secondary school established by the government.
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.[40]
Singapore became the 104th member of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank.[44]
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.[45]
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.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) awards the Youth Olympic Games hosting rights to Singapore ahead of Moscow by a vote of 53 to 44.
27 February
Jemiah Islamiah terrorist head Mas Selamat bin Kastari escapes from prison.
September
Singapore slips into recession due to the global financial crisis. World economies hit badly; banks around the world collapse.
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.
Tanjong Pagar Railway Station ceased operation and to be reserved as the Singapore Railway Museum.
27 August
Singaporeans, for the first time since the establishment of Presidential Election, will be voting for the next President after the 6th President of Singapore – SR Nathan stepped down on 31 August 2011. The candidates involves in this election includes – Dr Tan Keng Yam Tony, Mr Tan Jee Say, Mr Tan Kin Lian and Dr. Tan Cheng Bock.
More than 3000 Singaporeans gathered at the Speakers' Corner, Singapore at Hong Lim Park for a non-partisan protest against the government's Population White Paper which projected a possible 6.9 million people in Singapore by 2030.
24 June
Haze in Singapore reaches 401 PSI, the worst in Singapore history.
The CPIB of Singapore investigates Ministers K. Shanmugam and Vivian Balakrishnan after accusations regarding their Ridout Road state-owned bungalows rentals.
Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin and MP for Tampines GRC (Tampines East) Cheng Li Hui simultaneously resign due to "propriety and personal conduct". Investigations into the matter confirmed that both were having an extramarital affair.
19 July
MP for Aljunied GRC (Serangoon) Leon Perera and Nicole Seah resign from office due to a leaked video showing an inappropriate exchange between the two. Later it was found that they were having an extramarital affair.
14 September
Tharman Shanmugaratnam is sworn in as Singapore’s ninth President of Singapore. He is the first non-Chinese presidential candidate to win in a contested presidential election in Singapore.
Ahmed Salim becomes the first death row offender executed for murder in Singapore since 2019. The Bangladeshi painter was convicted for killing his Indonesian ex-girlfriend in 2018.[52]
A six-car collision at the junction of Tampines Avenue 1 and 4 results in the death of two Malay Singaporeans: 17-year-old Temasek Junior College student and a 57-year-old woman.
^"The Overland Singapore Free Press". Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser. 18 August 1859. p. 5. Archived from the original on 17 October 2018. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
^"The Anderson Bridge". The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser. 14 March 1910. p. 5. Archived from the original on 13 November 2018. Retrieved 13 November 2018.