Lee Kuan Yew - Founding Father of Modern Singapore, Birthday and Personal Life
Home › Singaporean › Lee Kuan YewSeptember 16, 1923744 viewsLee Kuan Yew's Personal Details
Lee Kuan Yew was the first Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birthday | September 16, 1923 |
| Died on | March 23, 2015 |
| Nationality | Singaporean |
| Famous | Cambridge University, London School Of Economics (LSE), Leaders, Prime Ministers, Founding Father of Modern Singapore |
| Spouses | Kwa Geok Choo |
| Siblings | Dennis Lee, Freddy Lee, Lee Suan Yew, Monica Lee |
| Known as | Harry Lee Kuan Yew |
| Childrens | Lee Hsien Loong |
| Universities |
|
| Notable Alumnis |
|
| Birth Place | Singapore, Straits Settlements |
| Political Ideology | People's Action Party |
| Religion | Agnostic |
| Gender | Male |
| Father | Lee Chin Koon |
| Mother | Chua Jim Neo |
| Sun Sign | Virgo |
| Born in | Singapore, Straits Settlements |
| Famous as | Founding Father of Modern Singapore |
| Died at Age | 91 |
Lee Kuan Yew's photo
Who is Lee Kuan Yew?
Lee Kuan Yew, the first Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore, is regarded as the founding father of modern Singapore. His dream of making Singapore a part of the Federation of Malaysia was shattered. Continuing as the Prime Minister of the new republic, he was beset with numerous problems that mainly stemmed from the nation's limited natural resources. Though he adopted the policies of non-alignment and neutrality for Singapore, he did not take his country’s independence for granted. Apart from strengthening its military might, he brought in conscription. He encouraged foreign investment, developed the necessary infrastructure, ensured racial harmony, and eliminated corruption. During his three decades as Prime Minister, Singapore achieved a per capita income next only to Japan's in East Asia, and emerged as a chief financial hub in the region. He is responsible for grooming the people of Singapore as the most disciplined and hard working people in the world. Though widely admired, his autocratic methods invited criticism. He did not tolerate dissent from political opponents and the media.
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Childhood & Early Life
Lee Kuan Yew was born on 16 September 1923, to Lee Chin Koon and Chua Jim Neo. He has three brothers: Dennis Lee, Freddy Lee and Lee Suan Yew, and one sister, Monica Lee. The family was prosperous, and his father received an English education.
He studied at the prestigious Raffles Institution, and stood first in Singapore and Malaysia in the Senior Cambridge exams. Awarded an Anderson Scholarship to Raffles College, he studied there between 1940 and 1942.
When World War II ended, he went to study in England. He graduated with a rare Double Starred Law Degree from Fitzwilliam College, affiliated to the University of Cambridge.
Career
Lee Kuan Yew returned to Singapore in 1949. He gained invaluable experience in politics as the election agent to the pro-British Progressive Party leader, John Laycock in whose law firm he was employed.
Along with some English-educated middle class men, he founded the People's Action Party (PAP) as a facade for the illegal Malayan Communist Party, and was supported by pro-communist trade unions.
In the 1955 elections, he secured the Tanjong Pagar seat and became the Opposition leader. He represented the PAP in two discussions over the future constitutional status of Singapore, in London.
PAP swept the 1959 elections, gaining an absolute majority by winning 43 of the 51 Legislative Assembly seats. Singapore achieved self -government status, and Lee was sworn in as its first Prime Minister.
He inherited numerous problems in the various sectors. In 1960, he established the Housing and Development Board (HDB). The board undertook steps to provide affordable homes on war-footing.
He supported Malaya Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman’s proposal to form of a federation consisting of Malaya, Singapore, Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei. A referendum in 1962 validated the federation.
Singapore declared complete independence from the British in 1963 to become part of the Federation. But it was expelled two years later, owing to widespread racial riots between Chinese and Malays.
On August 9 1965, the Republic of Singapore was born. As the Prime Minister of the tiny fledgling republic, the fundamental problem was in managing its limited natural resources.
He ensured that Singapore was accepted to the United Nations in 1965, and to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) two years later. He declared a policy of neutrality and non-alignment.
He assigned the task of creating the Singapore Armed Forces to the then Deputy Prime Minister, Goh Keng Swee, which he did with international assistance. In 1967, compulsory military service was introduced.
English, Malay, Chinese, and Tamil were accorded official language statuses. ‘The Speak Mandarin Campaign’ was initiated in 1979, to promote Mandarin among Chinese-speaking people who spoke different Chinese dialects.
To encourage the use of English language, he ordered the Chinese- language Nanyang University be united to the English-language University of Singapore to form the National University of Singapore.
The Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau was strengthened by successive legislations and was given the power to make arrests, investigate bank accounts and income tax related information of suspected individuals.
Alarmed by the trend of Singaporean men not accepting graduate women as life partners, he established the Social Development Unit in 1983, to encourage the mingling of men and women graduates.
In 1990, he resigned as Prime Minister in favor of Goh Chok Tong, but continued to be influential as a Senior Minister in the cabinet in an advisory role.
In 2004, Goh Chok Tong resigned from prime ministership, in favor of Lee’s oldest son Lee Hsien Loong. Lee Sr. was appointed Minister Mentor in the new cabinet.
Major Works
In 1961, the Economic Development Board was established. It succeeded in industrializing Singapore by drawing foreign investment through tax incentive, providing highly skilled and cheap manpower, and modern transport systems and communication network.
Between 1965 and 1985, Singapore’s economy developed eightfold and its per capita income improved fourfold. The percentage of families living in poverty reduced to 0.3%. Homelessness and unemployment were completely stamped out.
Awards & Achievements
Britain presented Lee with the Order of the Companions of Honor, Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St. Michael and St. George, and the Freedom of the City of London.
He received the Woodrow Wilson Award for Public Service from the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.
Personal Life & Legacy
Lee married Kwa Geok Choo in 1950, and has three children–Hsien Loong, (the current PM), Dr. Wei Ling (heads the National Neuroscience Institute), and Hsien Yang (presides over the telecommunication giant, SingTel).
Lee Kuan Yew died of pneumonia on 23 March 2015, at the age of 91.
He authored many books in his lifetime. These include: ‘The Singapore Story’, ‘From Third World to First: The Singapore Story’, ‘The Wit and Wisdom of Lee Kuan Yew’, and ‘One Man's View of the World’.
Trivia
This Asian leader is an avid reader, and likes to occasionally read Tom Clancy novels which are famous for espionage and military science stories.
This Asian statesman declared, “Between being loved and being feared, I have always believed Machiavelli was right. If nobody is afraid of me, I’m meaningless”.
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Lee Kuan Yew's awards
| Year | Name | Award |
|---|---|---|
Other | ||
| 1984 | Seri Paduka Mahkota Johor | |
| 1988 | Order of Great Leader | |
| 1967 | Order of the Rising Sun | |
| 2009 | Russian Order of Friendship | |
| 2009 | Lifetime Achievement award from U.S.-Asean Business Council | |
| 2009 | Woodrow Wilson Award for Public Service from Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars | |
| 2012 | Kazakhstan Order of Friendship | |
| 0 | 1970 - Order of the Companions of Honour | |
| 0 | 1972 - Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George | |
| 0 | 1982 - Freedom of the City of London | |
Lee Kuan Yew biography timelines
- // 16th Sep 1923Lee Kuan Yew was born on 16 September 1923, to Lee Chin Koon and Chua Jim Neo. He has three brothers: Dennis Lee, Freddy Lee and Lee Suan Yew, and one sister, Monica Lee. The family was prosperous, and his father received an English education.
- // 1940 To 1942He studied at the prestigious Raffles Institution, and stood first in Singapore and Malaysia in the Senior Cambridge exams. Awarded an Anderson Scholarship to Raffles College, he studied there between 1940 and 1942.
- // 1949Lee Kuan Yew returned to Singapore in 1949. He gained invaluable experience in politics as the election agent to the pro-British Progressive Party leader, John Laycock in whose law firm he was employed.
- // 1950Lee married Kwa Geok Choo in 1950, and has three children–Hsien Loong, (the current PM), Dr. Wei Ling (heads the National Neuroscience Institute), and Hsien Yang (presides over the telecommunication giant, SingTel).
- // 1955In the 1955 elections, he secured the Tanjong Pagar seat and became the Opposition leader. He represented the PAP in two discussions over the future constitutional status of Singapore, in London.
- // 1959PAP swept the 1959 elections, gaining an absolute majority by winning 43 of the 51 Legislative Assembly seats. Singapore achieved self -government status, and Lee was sworn in as its first Prime Minister.
- // 1960He inherited numerous problems in the various sectors. In 1960, he established the Housing and Development Board (HDB). The board undertook steps to provide affordable homes on war-footing.
- // 1962He supported Malaya Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman’s proposal to form of a federation consisting of Malaya, Singapore, Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei. A referendum in 1962 validated the federation.
- // 1963Singapore declared complete independence from the British in 1963 to become part of the Federation. But it was expelled two years later, owing to widespread racial riots between Chinese and Malays.
- // 1965He ensured that Singapore was accepted to the United Nations in 1965, and to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) two years later. He declared a policy of neutrality and non-alignment.
- // 9th Aug 1965On August 9 1965, the Republic of Singapore was born. As the Prime Minister of the tiny fledgling republic, the fundamental problem was in managing its limited natural resources.
- // 1967He assigned the task of creating the Singapore Armed Forces to the then Deputy Prime Minister, Goh Keng Swee, which he did with international assistance. In 1967, compulsory military service was introduced.
- // 1979English, Malay, Chinese, and Tamil were accorded official language statuses. ‘The Speak Mandarin Campaign’ was initiated in 1979, to promote Mandarin among Chinese-speaking people who spoke different Chinese dialects.
- // 1983Alarmed by the trend of Singaporean men not accepting graduate women as life partners, he established the Social Development Unit in 1983, to encourage the mingling of men and women graduates.
- // 1990In 1990, he resigned as Prime Minister in favor of Goh Chok Tong, but continued to be influential as a Senior Minister in the cabinet in an advisory role.
- // 2004In 2004, Goh Chok Tong resigned from prime ministership, in favor of Lee’s oldest son Lee Hsien Loong. Lee Sr. was appointed Minister Mentor in the new cabinet.
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Lee Kuan Yew's FAQ
What is Lee Kuan Yew birthday?
Lee Kuan Yew was born at 1923-09-16
When was Lee Kuan Yew died?
Lee Kuan Yew was died at 2015-03-23
Where was Lee Kuan Yew died?
Lee Kuan Yew was died in Singapore
Which age was Lee Kuan Yew died?
Lee Kuan Yew was died at age 91
Where is Lee Kuan Yew's birth place?
Lee Kuan Yew was born in Singapore, Straits Settlements
What is Lee Kuan Yew nationalities?
Lee Kuan Yew's nationalities is Singaporean
Who is Lee Kuan Yew spouses?
Lee Kuan Yew's spouses is Kwa Geok Choo
Who is Lee Kuan Yew siblings?
Lee Kuan Yew's siblings is Dennis Lee, Freddy Lee, Lee Suan Yew, Monica Lee
Who is Lee Kuan Yew childrens?
Lee Kuan Yew's childrens is Lee Hsien Loong
What was Lee Kuan Yew universities?
Lee Kuan Yew studied at Cambridge University,London School Of Economics, Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, London School of Economics
What was Lee Kuan Yew notable alumnis?
Lee Kuan Yew's notable alumnis is Cambridge University, London School Of Economics
What is Lee Kuan Yew's political ideology?
Lee Kuan Yew's political ideology is People's Action Party
What is Lee Kuan Yew's religion?
Lee Kuan Yew's religion is Agnostic
Who is Lee Kuan Yew's father?
Lee Kuan Yew's father is Lee Chin Koon
Who is Lee Kuan Yew's mother?
Lee Kuan Yew's mother is Chua Jim Neo
What is Lee Kuan Yew's sun sign?
Lee Kuan Yew is Virgo
How famous is Lee Kuan Yew?
Lee Kuan Yew is famouse as Founding Father of Modern Singapore