Lee Kuan Yew: A Chronology, 1923-1965

• September 16, 1923 Lee Kuan Yew born in Singapore.
  
• 1936-1939 Student at Raffles Institituion.
  
• 1940 Comes in first in Singapore and Malaysia in Senior Cambridge exams, winning Anderson Scholarship to Raffles College.
  
• 1940-1942 Student at Raffles College.
  
• 15 February, 1942 Japanese occupation of Singapore begins.
  
• February 18-22, 1942 Japanese massacre between 50,000 and 100,000 Chinese Singaporeans. LKY experiences and observes brutality of Japanese army.
  
• May 1942 The English-educated Lee begins to study both Chinese and Japanese.
  
• 1943-1944 Works as English-language editor for Japanese "information or propaganda department called the Hobudu," learning that Allies are winning war (63).
  
• 1944 Black market commodities broker; manufactures adhesives.
  
• 1946 Student at London School of Economics; encounters Harold Laski's socialism.
  
• January 1947-1949 Student at Fitzwilliam House, Cambridge University.
  
• December 1947 Secretly marries Kwa Geok Choo, who is in UK studying law at Girton College, Cambridge.
  
• May-June 1949 LKY and Kwa Geok Choo both awarded first-class honours degrees in law.
  
• February 1950 Assists campaign of David Widdicombe, a Cambridge friend, running as a Labour candidate for Parliament from Totnes, Devon.
  
• May 1950 LKY and Kwa Geok Choo pass bar exams; both called to the Bar at the Middle Temple on June 21: "Life was about to enter a new phase" (126).
  
• August 1950 Returns to Singapore.
  
• September 1950 Marries Kwa Geok Choo again in Singapore.
  
• 1950-1959 Practices law; wins first trial as a barrister and becomes convinced of weakness of jury system; advisor for trade unions.
  
• November 1954 People's Action Party (PAP) founded.
  
• April 1955 Elected to Legislative Assembly first time.
  
• May 1956 Member first All-Party Constitutional Mission to London.
  
• March 1957 Member second All-Party Constitutional Mission to London.
  
• August 31, 1957 Federation of Malaysia achieves independence.
  
• May 1958 Member third All-Party Constitutional Mission to London.
  
• June 5, 1959 Sworn in, at age 35, as Prime Minister of Singapore.
  
• February 1960 Housing and Development Board (HDB) established, which begins massive public-housing campaign.
  
• July 1960 Formed People's Association to mobilize grassroots support against communists.
  
• September 1961 Lee's radio talks urge merger with Malaysia.
  
• September 1962 Singapore referendum approves merger with Malaysia.
  
• August 31, 1963 Singapore declares independence, ahead of formation of Malaysia.
  
• September 16, 1963 Malaysia, which includes Malaya, Singapore, Sarawak, and Sabah, formed.
  
• 21 July 1964 Ja'afar Albar's "racist agitation" causes riots in Singapore.
  
• September 1964 Second outbreak of "communal violence."
  
• May 1965 PAP promotes a Malaysian -- ie, not simply Malay -- Malaysia.
  
• August 9, 1965 Singapore separates from Malaysia.