56 Facts About Benjamin Sheares

Benjamin Henry Sheares was a Singaporean physician and academic who served as the second president of Singapore from 1971 until his death in 1981.

Benjamin Sheares studied obstetrics and gynaecology and worked as an obstetrician at the Kandang Kerbau Hospital, eventually serving as the Acting Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Malaya in Singapore.

Benjamin Sheares later became the Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the university, a rare feat for a local as usually high-ranking colonial officers held such positions.

Benjamin Sheares retired in 1960 and was in private practice before being elected as the president of Singapore by Parliament following the death of Yusof Ishak, the incumbent president, on 23 November 1970.

Benjamin Sheares was sworn in on 2 January 1971 following a unanimous agreement by Parliament and served as the president of Singapore for three terms, from 2 January 1971 till his death in office on 12 May 1981.

Benjamin Sheares was succeeded by Devan Nair on 23 October 1981.

Benjamin Sheares remains the only president to have been elected for three terms.

Benjamin Sheares was born on 12 August 1907 in Singapore, Straits Settlements to an Eurasian family with an English lineage.

Benjamin Sheares was the second of six children to his father Edwin Henry Sheares, an English technical supervisor of the Public Works Department, and his mother Lilian Jane Sheares, a Singapore-born woman of Chinese and Spanish descent.

Benjamin Sheares was aware that his family could not see him through the school fees afforded by the college, therefore he won a generous scholarship offered by the Council of the Medical College with his exemplary academic performance.

In 1940, Benjamin Sheares was awarded the Queen's Fellowship which would have granted him a two-year postgraduate training in Britain.

Later during the Japanese occupation, Benjamin Sheares served as head of department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Medical Superintendent for the local patients section of the hospital.

Benjamin Sheares had planned to take an examination at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh to join the Fellowship of the Royal Colleges of Surgeons but returned to Singapore after being called by then-Governor of Singapore Franklin Gimson to return to his post as Acting Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology as the previous Professor had retired.

Benjamin Sheares faced prejudice as despite serving as the Acting Professor for two years prior, the role of Professor was not given to him as he was a local and high-ranking colonials usually held such positions.

Benjamin Sheares needed two referrals but neither his previous boss nor the Principal Medical Officer gave him references.

Benjamin Sheares eventually got his referrals from the Chairman of the Board of Examiners, who had previously examined him for his MRCOG, and the professor at Royal Postgraduate Medical School in Hammersmith.

In December 1951, Benjamin Sheares used the remainder of his Queen's Fellowship study to go to the United States for a year.

In 1959, Benjamin Sheares advocated for voluntary sterilisation as a way to reduce population growth instead of legalising abortion, which he garnered criticism for.

Benjamin Sheares explained that even if abortions were made legal, people would still perform abortions illegally.

Benjamin Sheares went into private practice and worked at a clinic at Battery Road.

Benjamin Sheares had been serving as a Honorary Consultant at KKH after his retirement.

Benjamin Sheares created a technique to make an artificial vagina for those born without one.

At the 1970 presidential election, then-Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew nominated Benjamin Sheares to become president and he became the second president of Singapore on 2 January 1971 after he was sworn in, following a unanimous agreement by Parliament.

Benjamin Sheares's mother was 91 years old when she learnt that her son had become the president of Singapore.

Speculation on why Benjamin Sheares was chosen to become the president include that he was non-partisan, as he was not a part of any political party, or that he was from a minority race in Singapore, to show the equality in the then-mostly Chinese dominated government.

The Far Eastern Economic Review stated in a 1971 issue that Benjamin Sheares was largely chosen due to his profession and success, along with showing diversity in the government.

That same year, Benjamin Sheares opened the 1971 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, holding dinners and tours for the representatives.

In July 1971, Benjamin Sheares awarded the first Singapore Armed Forces Overseas Scholarships, the second highest scholarship award to the President's Scholar.

In February 1972, Benjamin Sheares hosted a 3-day visit for Queen Elizabeth II and her family's visit to Singapore.

Benjamin Sheares was awarded the Honorary Knight Grand Cross of The Most Honourable Order of the Bath and gave the Order of Temasek to Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

Benjamin Sheares gave the Distinguished Service Order to Princess Anne.

In October 1972, Benjamin Sheares opened the third Parliament, giving a speech about the new policies of the government for the next five years.

Benjamin Sheares announced new policies to be implemented in the government, including the periodic investigations of political parties by accountants and auditors, increased subsidiaries in health and education, and increasing the wages of workers.

In February 1973, Benjamin Sheares greeted American Vice President Spiro Agnew upon his visit to Singapore where Agnew discussed problems in Southeast Asia with other ministers.

In March 1973, Benjamin Sheares gave a speech at the Singapore Red Cross Society, praising their efforts in fundraising and stating that the society's status would be recognised by Singapore.

In July 1973, after the setting up of the Presidential Council for Minority Rights, Benjamin Sheares sworn in the Chairman of the Council Wee Chong Jin.

In September 1973, Benjamin Sheares opened the 7th South East Asian Peninsular Games at the National Stadium as the host country.

At the 1974 presidential election, Benjamin Sheares was nominated by Lee again to continue serving as the president, delivering a motion that Benjamin Sheares had shown, "courage from tenacity" and had "carried his office with unassuming dignity, application, and self-discipline".

Whilst serving his second term as president in 1974, Benjamin Sheares taught demonstration classes at KKH to gynaecologists.

In February 1974, Benjamin Sheares assented eight acts including the Arms Offences Act and the Land Acquisition Act.

In June 1975, Benjamin Sheares stated that the government expected a growth of five percent in the economy that year.

In July 1975, Benjamin Sheares was made an honorary fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine by Sir John Stallworthy.

In November 1975, Benjamin Sheares gave a speech after opening the fifth Pan-Pacific Conference of the International Society for the Rehabilitation of the Disabled at the Singapore Conference Hall, stating that more security measures should be in place to reduce workplace accidents that leave workers disabled.

In October 1976, Benjamin Sheares appointed Arumugam Ponnu Rajah as a Judge of the Supreme Court of Singapore.

In December 1976, Benjamin Sheares dissolved the third Parliament on the advice of the Cabinet, issuing Writs of Election for the 69 constituencies.

In 1977, at the opening of the fourth Parliament, Benjamin Sheares gave a speech addressing the economics and security of Singapore, stating that they have increased from prospects given in October 1972.

Benjamin Sheares talked about adopting the science, technology, management, and marketing skills from the West.

At the latter, Benjamin Sheares gave a speech on how more research in family planning for women was needed to strengthen future policies.

In October 1978, Sheares appointed T S Sinnathuray as a Judge of the Supreme Court of Singapore.

In 1979, Benjamin Sheares assented multiple acts such as the Money-Changing and Remittance Business Act 1979 and the State Immunity Act 1979.

In 1980, Benjamin Sheares was involved in improving commercial and economic relations with Kuwait after a visit by the Emir of Kuwait Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah where they discussed strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries.

In February 1981, Benjamin Sheares opened the fifth Parliament and gave a 15-minute long speech.

Benjamin Sheares served his third term as president until his death in office in March 1981.

Benjamin Sheares married Yeo Seh Geok, a trained midwife, in 1939 and they had three children together.

In November 1971, Benjamin Sheares underwent medical treatment for a vascular disorder in the United States as the operation required had not yet been developed in Singapore.

On 2 March 1981, it was found out that Benjamin Sheares had lung cancer.