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Singapore skyline viewed from the Singapore Flyer photo by RL0919 

10 Most Famous Historical events that happened 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. According to the Malay Annals, the Kingdom of Singapura was founded by Sang Nila Utama, a prince of Srivijaya. The kingdom existed till 1398.

The British arrived in Singapore in January 1819 when Sir Stamford Raffles landed on the island, establishing it as a trading post for the British East India Company. He devised the Raffles Town Plan in 1822, creating districts such as the Commercial Square business hub and residential areas divided by ethnicity, including Chinatown for the Chinese and Kampong Glam, where Muslims and ethnic Arabs settled. 

Singapore鈥檚 reputation as a trading post boomed, particularly from 1869, with the opening of the Suez Canal increasing the number of visiting ships, resulting in a roaring trade in rubber and tin. Britain鈥檚 positive influence on Singapore鈥檚 growing prosperity was marked with the unveiling of the Raffles Statue and celebrations for Queen Victoria鈥檚 Golden Jubilee in June 1887, but all this changed during the Second World War. 

The Japanese bombed Singapore in 1941 and defeated the British in the Battle of Singapore; with the island under Japanese occupation from 1942 to 1945, it was renamed Syonan-To (Light of the South Island). Following Japan鈥檚 surrender in 1945, Singapore was once again under British control.

Here are the 10 Most Famous Historical events that happened in Singapore

1.  British trading post was established  in Singapore

The establishment of a British trading post in Singapore in 1819 by Sir Stamford Raffles led to its founding as a British colony in 1824. This event has generally been understood to mark the founding of colonial Singapore, a break from its status as a port in ancient times during the Srivijaya and Majapahit eras, and later, as part of the Sultanate of Malacca and the Johor Sultanate.

2.Singapore became the capital of Straits Settlements

Singapore in the Straits Settlements refers to a period in the history of Singapore from 1826 to 1942, during which Singapore was part of the Straits Settlements together with Penang and Malacca. Singapore was the capital and the seat of government of the Straits Settlement after it was moved from George Town in 1832.

From 1830 to 1867, the Straits Settlements was a residency, or subdivision, of the Presidency of Bengal, in British India. In 1867, the Straits Settlements became a separate Crown colony, directly overseen by the Colonial Office in Whitehall in London.

 The period saw Singapore establish itself as an important trading port and developed into a major city with a rapid increase in population. The city remained as the capital and seat of government until British rule was suspended in February 1942, when the Imperial Japanese Army invaded Singapore during World War II.

3. Suez Canal  was  opened that resulted  trade booming

Portal said canal 1880 photo by unknown author

The Suez Canal was opened on 17 November 1869 after a decade-long construction. It was an artificial waterway that cuts across the Isthmus of Suez in Egypt to connect the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea.

The canal greatly reduced the time needed for vessels to sail from Europe to Asia, as they did not have to make the long journey around the African Cape. The shorter travelling time, along with other factors such as the greater usage of steamers rather than sailing ships, led to an increase in trade between Europe and Asia.

This development could be seen in Singapore鈥檚 trade figures: total trade volume reached $71 million in 1870, a year after the canal was opened, up from only $39 million the year before. The trade boom would continue throughout the 1870s, and by 1879, the colony鈥檚 total trade volume was valued at $105 million.

 To facilitate the sudden increase in commerce, especially via steam shipping, Singapore began to shift its port activities from Boat Quay to New Harbour (renamed Keppel Harbour in 1900) located at Tanjong Pagar

4. Singapore became main British naval base in East Asia

It was situated in Sembawang at the northern tip of Singapore. Also it was both a Royal Navy shore establishment. Singapore was a cornerstone of British defense policy (the Singapore strategy) in the Far East between the World Wars. 

From 1921 to 1941 it was a base of the China Station and from 1941 to 1958 it was a base for the Far East Fleet. Today, it is a commercial dockyard but British military activity still exists at the British Defense Singapore Support Unit (BDSSU).

5. Japan bombs Singapore during the World war II

British troops surrender to the Japanese in the city area, after the surrender of all British forces following the successful invasion of Malaya and Singapore. photo by Unknown author

The bombing of Singapore was an attack on 8 December 1941 by seventeen G3M Nell bombers of Mihoro Air Group (Mihoro Kaigun K艒k奴tai) . Including the Imperial Japanese Navy, flying from Thu Dau Mot in southern Indochina. 

The attack began at around 0430, shortly after Japanese forces landed on Kota Bharu, Malaya. It was the first knowledge the Singapore population had that war had broken out in the Far East.

6.Singapore became separate crown colony.

The Colony of Singapore was a British Crown colony for a total of 140 years, interrupted by Japanese invasion during World War II. The Empire of Japan surrendered to the Allies at the end of World War II and Singapore was returned to British rule in 1945.

In 1946, the Straits Settlements were dissolved and together with Cocos-Keeling and Christmas Island, Singapore became a separate Crown colony.The colony was governed by the United Kingdom until it gained partial internal self-governance in 1955.

The Crown colony was dissolved on 3 June 1959 when Singapore gained internal self government, ending the 140 years of British rule on the island. On 9 August 1965, Singapore officially left Malaysia to become the fully independent country, due to political, economic and racial differences.

7. Singapore airlines flight clashed

Silk Air Flight 185 (1997) – artist’s depiction of crash. photo by unknown author

SilkAir Flight 185 was a scheduled international passenger flight operated by a Boeing 737-300 from Soekarno鈥揌atta International Airport in Jakarta, Indonesia to Changi Airport in Singapore . It crashed into the Musi River near Palembang, Sumatra, on 19 December 1997, killing all 97 passengers and seven crew on board.

Also on 31 October 2000, at 23:18 Taipei local time (15:18 UTC), the Boeing 747-412 operating the flight attempted to take off from the wrong runway at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport during a typhoon. 

The aircraft crashed into construction equipment on the runway, killing 81 of the 179 people aboard. Ninety-eight initially survived the impact, but two passengers died later from injuries in a hospital.

As of 2022, the accident is the third-deadliest on Taiwanese soil. It was the first fatal accident involving a Boeing 747-400; it is also the first and only Singapore Airlines crash to result in fatalities.

8.Japan, Singapore signed free trade agreement

On 13 January 2002, Goh and then Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi signed the landmark agreement. It was officially known as the Japan鈥揝ingapore Economic Agreement for a New Age Partnership.

 The accord came into effect on 30 November 2002.Goh noted that this trade deal would provide a model for similar negotiations between Japan and other countries in Southeast Asia.

9. Singapore marked its  50th anniversary of independence from Malaysia

Singapore’s National Stadium photo by Indra K. Lee

 Singapore has held nationwide events to mark 50 years since it became an independent state. Tens of thousands of people attended an outdoor parade, watching on as fighter jets whizzed through the sky and a huge convoy rumbled past.

The event culminated with spectators reciting the national pledge and singing the national anthem. Singapore became independent when it was ejected from the Federation of Malaysia amid social unrest. 

In 50 years, the former British colony has transformed itself into one of the world’s wealthiest countries.

10.The world’s first driverless taxi service was launched in Singapore

The world鈥檚 first self-driving taxi service has been launched by Singapore in 2016. It was based autonomy. This was an autonomous vehicle software startup. The company has started this service with small 6 cars.