RESEARCH ON BENJAMIN SHEARS

BY :DHANASHREE

LYRAMICHELLE LIM

JI HEYAN

SEC 2 HISTORYBARTLEY SECONDARY SCHOOL

TERM 3 E-LEARNING ASSIGNMENT 2011THEME : “LEADERS OF MODERN SIGAPORE”

Personal details

•Born in 12 August 1907, Singapore

•Died 12 May 1981 (aged 73), Singapore

•Worked as physician

•A Christian

•His father was the second child of six children to a Eurasian family with an English lineage.

•His father Edwin H , a technical supervisor of the Public Works Department, was born in England and raised in India. Edwin later migrated to Penang and married Singapore-born Lilian Gómez, of Chinese Singaporean and Spanish descent

•hard life awaited Edwin Sheares as the first child died of infancy

Family and background

• Married Yeo Seh Geok in 1939

•Had a 1 daughter and 2 sons.

•His daughter was the head of History Museum of Singapore.

•His children are all currently residing in Singapore.

Early life

•Sheares dreamed to become doctor

•However, his dream seemed impossible for he came from a poor Asian family

•Attended Saint Andrew’s School(1918) and then tranferred to Raffles Institution (1922)

•In 1923, he enrolled into King Edward VII College of Medicine Singapore to begin his medical training

Early Life

●He had a close relationship with his sister Alice and often loved to play doctor with her. There was once when he made Alice swallow a one-cent

coin as a medical “pill” in their game

● Alice spirited him on with that dream, against his mother's wishes for her son to take up a job as a clerk and start helping out with the family bills as soon as he completed his Senior Cambridge Examinations (O-

Level equivalent).

Medical Career

•Was the first Singaporean to specialize in O&G; The first to be appointed Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University Of Malaya in Singapore.

•He became a Obsetetrician In Kandang Kerbau Hospital and a Professor at University of Malaya.

•His main contribution is to perform Sex Change Operations.

•He was also the Chancellor of National University Of Singapore

Presidency

•Sheares was made President 2 months after Yusof Bin Ishak's death

•Led a humble life, for example :he still returned to his home daily for

meals despite his new high Position.

•He refused for a higher salary and was popular .

•During his tenth year as a president, he fell into coma for 5 days before passing away.

•Was well- respected, 85,000 people turned up to the Istana to pay their final respects to him.

Awards•He won at least an award every year. For his major contributions,

•1964 : Honorable Order of the Life of the Crown of Kelantan (DJMK).

•1967 : the Kedah Order of Chivalry 2nd Class (DPMK).

•1970 : Litt.D. (honris causa), University of Singapore.

•1972 : GCB, United Kingdom.

•1974 : Star of the Republic of Indonesia Adipurna.

•1975 : Honorary Fellow, Royal Society of Medicine.

•1976 : Ancient Order of Sikatuna, Republic of the Philippines.

•1976 : Honorary fellow, Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecologists.

•1971 : Honorary Life membership of the SRC.

Sheares seen with PM Lee Kwan Yew Bronze bust of President BH Sheares

at Sheares Hall,National University of Singapore, circa 2001

Family party at the Residence top floor KKH, circa 1950.

King Edward VII College of Medicine – Professors and Graduates,March 1929.

Sheares history Sheares history ….….

Death

•He became president at the age of 64 and held this office between 2 January 1971 until his death on 12 may 1981

•He lends his name to several landmarks and buildings including Benjamin Sheares Bridge and the Shears Bridge.

Review on Sheares

•Benjamin Shears is a rather remarkable man.

•Quiet but Kind-hearted, he secretly gave away his entire salary during his rule to the poor.

•This is the qualities of the Perfect President Benjamin Shears has displayed

THANK YOU!!THANK YOU!!DD

one By :one By :

DDhanashree Lyra Govindaraju(Content hanashree Lyra Govindaraju(Content expert,researcher)expert,researcher)

MMichelle Lim (Leader, researcher)ichelle Lim (Leader, researcher)

JJi Heyan ( ICT expert, researcher)i Heyan ( ICT expert, researcher)

We will all know Mr Benjamin H. Sheares We will all know Mr Benjamin H. Sheares as a special man who has changed as a special man who has changed Singapore with his contributions and Singapore with his contributions and ruled Singapore with such Kindness.ruled Singapore with such Kindness.

Information from: Infopedia, Wikipedia, Istana.orgInfopedia, Wikipedia, Istana.org

Images from google.comAnd annals.edu.sg