Historical figures in Singapore
The atlas holds 28 people and 66 moments here, from 1871 to 2024. The most recorded lives are Lee Kuan Yew, Charlie Chaplin and P. Ramlee. Among them Writers, Political Leaders and Educators, across the Space Age and the Cold War.
Notable people
Albert Einstein
in 1922
1 moment here
German-born theoretical physicist who transformed modern physics through special and general relativity, foundational work on quantum theory, and…
Amelia Earhart
in 1937
1 moment here
American aviator and author. Earhart was born in Atchison, Kansas, became a leading aviation pioneer, crossed the Atlantic as a passenger in 1928,…
Charlie Chaplin
from 1932 to 1961
10 moments here
English actor, comedian, director, writer, producer and composer whose screen persona, the Tramp, became an international icon.…
Chulalongkorn
from 1871 to 1896
2 moments here
Chulalongkorn (Rama V) was King of Siam from 1868 until 1910. His reign combined state centralization, legal and social reform, and diplomacy…
Corazon Aquino
in 1986
1 moment here
María Corazón Sumulong Cojuangco-Aquino was a Filipino political leader and president of the Philippines from 1986 to 1992.…
Deng Xiaoping
in 1978
1 moment here
Chinese revolutionary, statesman, and paramount leader of the People’s Republic of China from 1978 to 1989.…
Eisaku Satō
in 1967
1 moment here
Japanese politician and prime minister of Japan from 1964 to 1972. A former railway bureaucrat, Satō led Japan during rapid economic growth, pursued…
Hermann Hesse
in 1911
1 moment here
German-Swiss poet, novelist, essayist, and painter. Hesse’s documented life moved between Württemberg, Switzerland, Italy, and Southeast Asia:…
John McCain
in 2016
1 moment here
John Sidney McCain III was an American naval aviator, Vietnam War prisoner of war, U.S. representative, U.S.…
José Rizal
in 1882
1 moment here
Filipino nationalist, writer, physician, and polymath whose reform advocacy, novels, exile, trial, and execution made him a central figure in…
Khaleda Zia
in 2005
1 moment here
Bangladeshi politician who was prime minister of Bangladesh in 1991–1996 and 2001–2006, chaired the Bangladesh Nationalist Party from 1984 until her…
Lee Kuan Yew
from 1923 to 2015
15 moments here
Singaporean barrister and statesman who co-founded the People’s Action Party and served as Singapore’s first prime minister from 1959 to 1990.…
Milton Obote
in 1971
1 moment here
Apollo Milton Obote was a Ugandan politician who served as prime minister from 1962 to 1966 and as president from 1966 to 1971 and from 1980 to 1985.…
Nguyễn Phú Trọng
in 2012
1 moment here
Vietnamese politician and political theorist who served as General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam from 2011 until his death in 2024, and…
Pablo Neruda
in 1927
1 moment here
Chilean poet, diplomat, senator, Communist political figure, and 1971 Nobel laureate. Born Ricardo Eliécer Neftalí Reyes Basoalto, he lived and…
Pope Francis
in 2024
2 moments here
Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Pope Francis, was an Argentine Jesuit priest, archbishop of Buenos Aires, cardinal, and head of the Catholic Church and…
P. Ramlee
from 1949 to 1973
5 moments here
Teuku Zakaria bin Teuku Nyak Puteh, known as P. Ramlee, was a Malaysian actor, singer, composer, and filmmaker.…
Pridi Banomyong
in 1947
1 moment here
Thai lawyer, political leader, regent, prime minister, and founder of Thammasat University. A civilian leader of the 1932 Siamese Revolution, he…
Robert Mugabe
from 2014 to 2019
3 moments here
Zimbabwean nationalist leader, Prime Minister of Zimbabwe from 1980 to 1987 and President from 1987 to 2017.…
Sebastián Piñera
in 2018
1 moment here
Chilean economist, businessman and politician who served as president of Chile from 2010 to 2014 and from 2018 to 2022.…
Shinzo Abe
from 2014 to 2015
2 moments here
Japanese politician who served as Prime Minister of Japan from 2006 to 2007 and from 2012 to 2020.…
Sun Yat-sen
in 1906
1 moment here
Chinese physician, revolutionary, and political thinker who founded the Republic of China and the Kuomintang.…
Sushma Swaraj
in 2014
1 moment here
Indian lawyer, politician and diplomat. Swaraj served in the Haryana government, represented constituencies in Parliament, was Chief Minister of…
Sydney Brenner
from 1985 to 2019
4 moments here
South African-born molecular biologist whose career moved from Johannesburg and Oxford to Cambridge, California, Singapore and other scientific…
Moments
- 1871 Study visit to Singapore Chulalongkorn
- 1882 Stop in Singapore José Rizal
- 1896 Return visit to Singapore Chulalongkorn
- 1906 Tongmenghui branch in Singapore Sun Yat-sen
- 1911 Asian journey: Singapore Hermann Hesse
- 1922 Speaks in Singapore Albert Einstein
- 1923 Birth at Kampong Java Road Lee Kuan Yew
- 1927 Transit through Singapore Pablo Neruda
- 1930 Primary education at Telok Kurau Lee Kuan Yew
- 1932 Arrives in Singapore Charlie Chaplin
- 1932 Stays at Sea View Hotel Charlie Chaplin
- 1932 Attends Serangoon horse races Charlie Chaplin
- 1932 Hospitalized with dengue fever Charlie Chaplin
- 1935 Secondary education at Raffles Institution Lee Kuan Yew
- 1936 Arrives in Singapore with Paulette Goddard Charlie Chaplin
- 1936 Flies from Seletar to Batavia Charlie Chaplin
- 1936 Tours Singapore by rickshaw Charlie Chaplin
- 1936 Visits Singapore Reformatory Charlie Chaplin
- 1936 Returns to Singapore from Bali Charlie Chaplin
- 1937 Second world-flight attempt: Singapore Amelia Earhart
- 1943 Japanese occupation work at Cathay Building Lee Kuan Yew
- 1946 Departure for Britain aboard MV Britannic Lee Kuan Yew
- 1947 Escaped to Singapore after coup Pridi Banomyong
- 1949 Works at Jalan Ampas with L. Krishnan P. Ramlee
- 1950 Marriage on Boon Teck Road P. Ramlee
- 1950 Return to Singapore aboard MS Willem Ruys Lee Kuan Yew
- 1954 Political planning at Oxley Road Lee Kuan Yew
- 1954 People's Action Party inauguration Lee Kuan Yew
- 1956 Merdeka Mission departure Tunku Abdul Rahman
- 1961 Returns to Singapore with family Charlie Chaplin
- 1961 Marries Saloma in Pasir Panjang P. Ramlee
- 1961 Residence at Cedar Avenue P. Ramlee
- 1961 Malaysia proposal speech in Singapore Tunku Abdul Rahman
- 1963 Singapore independence declaration ceremony Lee Kuan Yew
- 1965 Isolation at Changi Cottage Lee Kuan Yew
- 1967 Southeast Asian tour: Singapore Eisaku Satō
- 1969 Charity performance at Singapore National Opera House Teresa Teng
- 1971 Commonwealth meeting during coup Milton Obote
- 1973 Attends the 19th Asian Film Festival P. Ramlee
- 1973 Far East Top Ten Stars Charity Gala Teresa Teng
- 1978 Boat-people rescue operation Thích Nhất Hạnh
- 1978 Meeting with Lee Kuan Yew in Singapore Deng Xiaoping
- 1978 Dinner for Deng Xiaoping at the Istana Lee Kuan Yew
- 1985 Lee Kuan Yew Distinguished Visitor Sydney Brenner
- 1986 State visit to Singapore Corazon Aquino
- 1997 Visit to the National Orchid Garden Sydney Brenner
- 2005 Official visit to Singapore Khaleda Zia
- 2008 Treatment at Singapore General Hospital Lee Kuan Yew
- 2010 Singapore meditation retreat Thích Nhất Hạnh
- 2012 Official visit to Singapore Nguyễn Phú Trọng