January edit
- 29 January 1819: Sir Stamford Raffles arrives in Singapore.
- 29 January 1983: The Singapore Cable Car disaster occurs, killing 7 people and trapping another 13 people in the cable car cabins.
- 31 January 1974: The Japanese Red Army bombs petroleum tanks at Pulau Bukom and hijacks a ferry boat in what is known as the Laju incident.
February edit
- 2 February 1963: Operation Coldstore takes place. At least 111 anti-government left-wing activists were arrested and detained, including key members of the Barisan Sosialis.
- 8 February 1819: Sir Stamford Raffles signs a treaty with Sultan Hussein of Johor, thus marking the founding of modern Singapore.
- 15–25 February 1915: The Singapore Mutiny occurs as British Indian sepoys rose up against the British.
- 15 February 1942: The Fall of Singapore to the Japanese during World War II. This was described by Winston Churchill as the "worst disaster" and "largest capitulation" in British history.
- 21 February 2008: The International Olympic Committee awards the hosting rights to the inaugural Youth Olympic Games to Singapore.
March edit
- 10 March 1964: The MacDonald House bombing is carried out by Indonesian saboteurs, killing three people.
- 14 March 1967: The National Service bill is passed though the parliament, making it compulsory for all able-bodied Singaporean males above 18 to serve National Service.
- 15 March 1986: The Hotel New World collapses, killing 33 people.
- 20 March 1948: Singapore's first election takes place.
- 26 March 1991: Singapore Airlines Flight 117 is hijacked by four Pakistanis.
- 23 March 2015: Former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew passed away at the age of 91
April edit
- 1 April 1867: The Straits Settlements becomes a crown colony of the British Empire.
- 2 April 1955: David Saul Marshall becomes the first Chief Minister of Singapore.
- 18 April 2005: Casino-gambling is legalised and the construction of two Integrated Resorts is approved by the government.
- 19 April 1968: The People's Action Party won all seats in Singapore's first general election after independence.
- 20 April 2004: A section of Nicoll Highway collapses, killing 4 people.
May edit
- 5 May 1994: American teenager Michael P. Fay is convicted and caned for vandalism, creating a diplomatic uproar between the US and Singapore.
- 12 May 1955: Four people are killed during the Hock Lee bus riots.
- 13 May 1954: Some Singapore Chinese who were opposed to National Service, many of whom influenced by the communist ideology, riot.
- 25 May 1961: The Bukit Ho Swee Fire occurs, killing four people and destroying 2,200 attap houses.
- 31 May 1969: The 1969 Race Riots of Singapore breaks out after tension from the 13 May Incident in Malaysia spilled over to Singapore.
June edit
- 5 June 1823: Raffles Institution, the oldest school in Singapore, is founded by Stamford Raffles.
- 12 June 1937: Kallang Airport, the first airport in Singapore, is opened.
- 12 June 1967: The first issue of Singapore Dollar is released.
- 16 June 1948: The Malayan Emergency begins.
July edit
- 1 July 1981: Singapore Changi Airport starts operation.
- 6 July 1990: The East West Line, one of the main lines on Singapore's Mass Rapid Transit system, is completed.
- 21 July 1964: An ethnic riot between the Malays and Chinese breaks out on Prophet Muhammad's birthday. 23 people are killed.
August edit
- 8 August 1967: The Association of Southeast Asian Nations was founded with Singapore as one of its founding members.
- 9 August 1965: Singapore becomes an independent country after its separation from Malaysia.
- 9 August 2015: The "Singapore50" initiative is launched in Singapore to celebrate 50 years of independence from Malaysia. National Day Parade ceremonies for that year are themed Majulah Singapura - Onward Singapore.
- 14 August 1945: Japan surrenders, marking the end of the Japanese occupation of Singapore during World War II.
September edit
- 1 September 1993: Ong Teng Cheong becomes the first directly-elected President in Singapore.
- 1 September 2000: The Speakers's Corner is launched at Hong Lim Park.
- 3 September 1988: Group representation constituencies, a type of political division unique to Singapore, are introduced at the 1988 General Elections.
- 21 September 1965: Singapore is admitted into the United Nations as its 117th member.
- 27 September 1943: Operation Jaywick, a sabotage attempt by Special Operations Australia, was launched. 7 Japanese ships in Singapore Harbour were sunk.
October edit
- 12 October 1978: The worst industrial accident in Singapore, the Spyros disaster, occurs, killing 76 people.
- 25 October 2007: Singapore Airlines makes the world's first commercial flight via the Airbus A380 superjumbo jet.
- 31 October 1971: The last British military forces withdraw from Singapore.
- 31 October 1981: Opposition MP Joshua Benjamin Jeyaretnam is elected into Parliament, breaking a 16-year monopoly of the House by the People's Action Party.
- 31 October 2000: Singapore Airlines Flight 006 crashes during take-off in Chiang Kai Shek International Airport, killing 83 people.
November edit
- 7 November 1987: The first section of Singapore's MRT system on the North South MRT Line opens.
- 22 November 1990: Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 2 begins operation.
- 28 November 1990: Goh Chok Tong becomes the second Prime Minister of Singapore, marking the first handover of power since Singapore's independence.
December edit
- 8 December 1941: The first air raid by the Japanese at 04:15, marking the start of the Battle of Singapore.
- 11–13 December 1950: The Maria Hertogh riots breaks out, killing 18 people.
- 19 December 1997: Silkair Flight 185 crashes, killing all 185 passengers aboard.
- 22 December 1965: Singapore becomes a republic after the Constitutional Amendment Act is passed.
- 27 December 2001: Singapore experiences its first typhoon, Tropical Storm Vamei.