Kuan Yew Lee
1st Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore (1923–2015)
Singapore’s first prime minister
Building a political party
Lee Kuan Yew helped organise the People’s Action Party, which became a decisive force in Singapore’s politics. When Singapore gained internal self-government in 1959, he became prime minister. His early leadership therefore began before the city-state’s full independence.
Leading an independent state
Singapore became an independent republic in 1965, and Lee continued as prime minister until 1990. His long tenure connected the transition to sovereignty with the building of new state institutions and an economically ambitious government. His governing style was also criticised as authoritarian.
Later cabinet roles
After leaving the premiership, Lee remained in government as senior minister. In 2004 he took the title of minister mentor in the cabinet led by his son, Lee Hsien Loong. Those later roles kept him close to national policy long after his three decades as head of government.