Benjamin Henry Sheares (12 August 1907 – 12 May 1981) was a Singaporean politician, physician and academic who served as the second president of Singapore from 1971 until his death in 1981.
Sheares retired in 1960 and was in private practice before being elected as the president of Singapore by the Parliament after the death of Yusof Ishak, the former president of the Republic, on 23 November 1970.[2] He was sworn on 2 January 1971.
Sheares initially wanted to retire after finishing his second term as he felt that he did not have the energy for another term, but Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew persuaded him and Sheares took on his third term. He served as the president of Singapore for three terms from 2 January 1971 until his death on 12 May 1981.[3]
Sheares was born on 12 August 1907 in Singapore to an Eurasian family with an English lineage. He was the second of six children in the family. His father Edwin H. Sheares, an English technical supervisor of the Public Works Department, and raised in the British Raj. Edwin later married Singapore-born Lilian Gómez, of mixed Chinese and Spanish descent, and had six children—the first died in infancy. Life was hard for the Sheares family with the meagre salary that Edwin received from his post.[5]
As a young child, Sheares was affectionately known as Ben or Bennie. He was a quiet boy who kept much to himself and loved to play at Peirce Reservoir, where his father worked.[6]
He had a close relationship with his sister Alice and often loved to role play doctor with her. On one occasion, he made Alice swallow a one-cent coin as a medical "pill" in their game. Benjamin was six years old then and received a good hiding from his mother Lilian. Throughout his growing years, Benjamin showed ambition to become a doctor—a dream deemed almost impossible for someone who was Asian and came from a poor family in the early colonial days of Singapore. However, Alice continued to spirit 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 (equivalent to O Level).[5]
Sheares was educated at St. Andrew's School before transferring in 1922 to study at the Raffles Institution, the only school equipped with scientific laboratories—making it an ideal place to further his ambition to become a doctor. In 1923, he enrolled into the King Edward VII College of Medicine (now the National University of Singapore) to begin his medical training.[7] Sheares was aware that his family could not see him through the hefty 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. With this quantum, he was able to give $50 monthly to his mother for the support of his family.[5] He continued to excel in his studies and was awarded four medals by his college. Later, he passed his Obstetrics and Gynaecology (O&G) final examinations with distinctions.
Medical career
Upon graduation, Sheares worked as an obstetrician in the Kandang Kerbau Hospital (now KK Women's and Children's Hospital) and a professor at the University of Malaya.[8] He continued to support his family, and assumed full responsibility for his family when his father died in 1940.[5] Sheares was awarded the Queen's Fellowship which would grant him a two-year postgraduate training in Britain. However, his studies were postponed due to the Second World War. During the war in 1941, the hospital Sheares was working at, was damaged by the bombing from the Japanese military and it was converted into a general hospital for injured civilians.[9]
After the war, Sheares was appointed as an acting professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the hospital, which he held on until he went for his postgraduate studies at the Royal Postgraduate Medical School in 1947. He returned to Singapore in 1948 and returned to his post as acting professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Kandang Kerbau Hospital before he became a full professor in 1950. Sheares then retired from the hospital in 1960 and went into private practice until he was elected as the president of Singapore by the Parliament.[9] He became Honorary Consultant after his retirement and continued teaching both undergraduate and postgraduate students at the hospital.[10]
Personal life
Sheares married Yeo Seh Geok Sheares in 1939 and they had three children together, Constance, Edwin Chin-Hwee and Joseph.
Presidency (1971–1981)
Benjamin Sheares became Singapore's second president on 2 January 1971. His mother was 91 years old when she learnt that her son had become the president of Singapore. Just two weeks before she died, she said "God has blessed Bennie especially after the way he looked after us and me."[5] According to a medical assistant of his, Sheares had possibly donated his entire salary as president to charity.[11]
Sheares served three terms as president from 2 January 1971 until 12 May 1981. He originally wanted to retire after finishing his second term as he felt that he did not have the energy for another term, but Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew persuaded him and Sheares, aged 70 then, took on his third term as president.[12][5] Sheares held the office until his death in 1981.[13][5]Devan Nair succeeded him as president.
Notable contributions
During his time as Head of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Kandang Kerbau Hospital (now KK Women's and Children's Hospital) during the Japanese occupation, Sheares pioneered the lower Caesarian section which resulted in a lower mortality and morbidity rate in pregnant women than the upper Caesarian section.
The method is currently the most common Caesarian section method used today.[12] Another one of Sheares' main contributions to medicine was a technique to create an artificial vagina for those born without one. A modification of it is still used for sex change operations today.[14]
Death and legacy
Tomb of President Benjamin Sheares at Kranji State Cemetery
Sheares was found to have tumors in his lung in November 1980 while serving his third term as president. He slipped into a coma on 8 May 1981 and died four days later on the 12th of that month. He was buried at Kranji State Cemetery.[5]
^. Duke-NUS. Archived from the original on 9 January 2015. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
^Singapore. Parliament. Parliamentary Debates: Official Report. (30 December 1970). Election of President of Republic of Singapore (Vol. 30, cols. 378–382); Election of President today. (30 December 1970). The Straits Times, p. 6. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
^Sheares in a coma. (11 May 1981). The Straits Times, p. 1; Lee, P., Ngoo, I., & Bala, K. (13 May 1981). Singapore mourns. The Straits Times, p. 1. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
^"How they came to be named". The Straits Times, Retrieved from Newspaper SG. 16 August 1994.
^ abcdefghSheares, J. (Joseph) H.H. (July 2005). (PDF). Annals of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore. 34 (6): 25C–41C. ISSN 0304-4602. PMID 16010377. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 February 2006.
^Kaur, R. (1987). The life of Benjamin Henry Sheares 1907–1981 (Thesis). Singapore: Department of History, National University of Singapore. OCLC 962739925.
^"Dr Benjamin Sheares". President's Office. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
^. Archived from the original on 30 August 2011. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
^ abChia, P. (27 December 1970). Sheares to be president. The Straits Times, p. 1 Retrieved from NewspaperSG; National Library Board. (2004)
^"Dr Benjamin Sheares". Istana Singapore. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
^Dr Chew Shing Chai (10 August 2011). . The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 17 August 2011. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
^ ab(PDF). Eurasians Singapore. June 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 August 2015. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
^Arunasalam, Sitragandi. "Benjamin Sheares". Singapore Infopedia, National Library Board. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
^Gwee, Elizabeth (20 November 2002). "A long overdue book on KKH". The Straits Times.
^"Benjamin Sheares Bridge". streetdirectory.com. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
^"Continuing the medical legacy of Prof Benjamin Sheares". singhealth.com.sg. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
^. Duke-NUS. Archived from the original on 9 January 2015. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
^. NUS Press Release. Archived from the original on 23 August 2011. Retrieved 1 April 2011.
Sheares, J. (Joseph) H.H. (July 2005). (PDF). Annals of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore. 34 (6): 25C–41C. ISSN 0304-4602. PMID 16010377. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 February 2006.
. Istana Singapore: Office of the President of the Republic of Singapore, Government of Singapore. 15 June 2006. Archived from the original on 23 August 2007. Retrieved 24 September 2007.
Cornelius-Takahama, Vernon (10 November 1997). . Singapore Infopedia, National Library Board. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 23 September 2007.
Tan, K.H.; Tay, E.H. (2003). "The O&G Fraternity & Pioneers – Professor Benjamin Henry Sheares". The History of Obstetrics & Gynaecology in Singapore. Singapore: Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society of Singapore; National Heritage Board. pp. 412–461. ISBN978-981-4045-68-1.
benjamin, sheares, benjamin, henry, sheares, august, 1907, 1981, singaporean, politician, physician, academic, served, second, president, singapore, from, 1971, until, death, 1981, president, singaporein, office, january, 1971, 1981prime, ministerlee, kuan, ye. Benjamin Henry Sheares 12 August 1907 12 May 1981 was a Singaporean politician physician and academic who served as the second president of Singapore from 1971 until his death in 1981 Benjamin Sheares2nd President of SingaporeIn office 2 January 1971 12 May 1981Prime MinisterLee Kuan YewPreceded byYusof IshakSucceeded byYeoh Ghim Seng acting Devan NairPersonal detailsBornBenjamin Henry Sheares 1907 08 12 12 August 1907Singapore Straits SettlementsDied12 May 1981 1981 05 12 aged 73 SingaporeCause of deathLung tumourResting placeKranji State CemeteryPolitical partyIndependentSpouseYeo Seh Geok Sheares m 1939 1981 1 Children3Alma materKing Edward VII College of MedicineRoyal Postgraduate Medical SchoolOccupationPoliticianphysicianacademicSheares retired in 1960 and was in private practice before being elected as the president of Singapore by the Parliament after the death of Yusof Ishak the former president of the Republic on 23 November 1970 2 He was sworn on 2 January 1971 Sheares initially wanted to retire after finishing his second term as he felt that he did not have the energy for another term but Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew persuaded him and Sheares took on his third term He served as the president of Singapore for three terms from 2 January 1971 until his death on 12 May 1981 3 Both the Benjamin Sheares Bridge and Sheares Hall at the National University of Singapore are named after him 4 Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Medical career 3 Personal life 4 Presidency 1971 1981 5 Notable contributions 6 Death and legacy 7 See also 8 References 8 1 BibliographyEarly life and education EditSheares was born on 12 August 1907 in Singapore to an Eurasian family with an English lineage He was the second of six children in the family His father Edwin H Sheares an English technical supervisor of the Public Works Department and raised in the British Raj Edwin later married Singapore born Lilian Gomez of mixed Chinese and Spanish descent and had six children the first died in infancy Life was hard for the Sheares family with the meagre salary that Edwin received from his post 5 As a young child Sheares was affectionately known as Ben or Bennie He was a quiet boy who kept much to himself and loved to play at Peirce Reservoir where his father worked 6 He had a close relationship with his sister Alice and often loved to role play doctor with her On one occasion he made Alice swallow a one cent coin as a medical pill in their game Benjamin was six years old then and received a good hiding from his mother Lilian Throughout his growing years Benjamin showed ambition to become a doctor a dream deemed almost impossible for someone who was Asian and came from a poor family in the early colonial days of Singapore However Alice continued to spirit 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 equivalent to O Level 5 Sheares was educated at St Andrew s School before transferring in 1922 to study at the Raffles Institution the only school equipped with scientific laboratories making it an ideal place to further his ambition to become a doctor In 1923 he enrolled into the King Edward VII College of Medicine now the National University of Singapore to begin his medical training 7 Sheares was aware that his family could not see him through the hefty 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 With this quantum he was able to give 50 monthly to his mother for the support of his family 5 He continued to excel in his studies and was awarded four medals by his college Later he passed his Obstetrics and Gynaecology O amp G final examinations with distinctions Medical career EditUpon graduation Sheares worked as an obstetrician in the Kandang Kerbau Hospital now KK Women s and Children s Hospital and a professor at the University of Malaya 8 He continued to support his family and assumed full responsibility for his family when his father died in 1940 5 Sheares was awarded the Queen s Fellowship which would grant him a two year postgraduate training in Britain However his studies were postponed due to the Second World War During the war in 1941 the hospital Sheares was working at was damaged by the bombing from the Japanese military and it was converted into a general hospital for injured civilians 9 After the war Sheares was appointed as an acting professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the hospital which he held on until he went for his postgraduate studies at the Royal Postgraduate Medical School in 1947 He returned to Singapore in 1948 and returned to his post as acting professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Kandang Kerbau Hospital before he became a full professor in 1950 Sheares then retired from the hospital in 1960 and went into private practice until he was elected as the president of Singapore by the Parliament 9 He became Honorary Consultant after his retirement and continued teaching both undergraduate and postgraduate students at the hospital 10 Personal life EditSheares married Yeo Seh Geok Sheares in 1939 and they had three children together Constance Edwin Chin Hwee and Joseph Presidency 1971 1981 EditBenjamin Sheares became Singapore s second president on 2 January 1971 His mother was 91 years old when she learnt that her son had become the president of Singapore Just two weeks before she died she said God has blessed Bennie especially after the way he looked after us and me 5 According to a medical assistant of his Sheares had possibly donated his entire salary as president to charity 11 Sheares served three terms as president from 2 January 1971 until 12 May 1981 He originally wanted to retire after finishing his second term as he felt that he did not have the energy for another term but Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew persuaded him and Sheares aged 70 then took on his third term as president 12 5 Sheares held the office until his death in 1981 13 5 Devan Nair succeeded him as president Notable contributions EditDuring his time as Head of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Kandang Kerbau Hospital now KK Women s and Children s Hospital during the Japanese occupation Sheares pioneered the lower Caesarian section which resulted in a lower mortality and morbidity rate in pregnant women than the upper Caesarian section The method is currently the most common Caesarian section method used today 12 Another one of Sheares main contributions to medicine was a technique to create an artificial vagina for those born without one A modification of it is still used for sex change operations today 14 Death and legacy Edit Tomb of President Benjamin Sheares at Kranji State Cemetery Sheares was found to have tumors in his lung in November 1980 while serving his third term as president He slipped into a coma on 8 May 1981 and died four days later on the 12th of that month He was buried at Kranji State Cemetery 5 The Benjamin Sheares Bridge Sheares Avenue and Sheares Link are named after him 15 In academia the student s residence Sheares Hall at the National University of Singapore Benjamin Henry Sheares Professorship in Obstetrics amp Gynaecology 16 Benjamin Sheares Professorship in Academic Medicine 17 and the Benjamin Sheares College at the Duke NUS Graduate Medical School 18 19 are all named after him See also Edit Singapore portal Biography portalPresident of Singapore Benjamin Sheares BridgeReferences Edit Remembering Mrs Benjamin Sheares Duke NUS Archived from the original on 9 January 2015 Retrieved 9 January 2015 Singapore Parliament Parliamentary Debates Official Report 30 December 1970 Election of President of Republic of Singapore Vol 30 cols 378 382 Election of President today 30 December 1970 The Straits Times p 6 Retrieved from NewspaperSG Sheares in a coma 11 May 1981 The Straits Times p 1 Lee P Ngoo I amp Bala K 13 May 1981 Singapore mourns The Straits Times p 1 Retrieved from NewspaperSG How they came to be named The Straits Times Retrieved from Newspaper SG 16 August 1994 a b c d e f g h Sheares J Joseph H H July 2005 Benjamin Henry Sheares MD MS FRCOG President Republic of Singapore 1971 1981 Obstetrician and Gynaecologist 1931 1981 A Biography 12th August 1907 12th May 1981 PDF Annals of the Academy of Medicine Singapore 34 6 25C 41C ISSN 0304 4602 PMID 16010377 Archived from the original PDF on 9 February 2006 Kaur R 1987 The life of Benjamin Henry Sheares 1907 1981 Thesis Singapore Department of History National University of Singapore OCLC 962739925 Dr Benjamin Sheares President s Office Retrieved 9 January 2015 Benjamin Sheares College Archived from the original on 30 August 2011 Retrieved 9 January 2015 a b Chia P 27 December 1970 Sheares to be president The Straits Times p 1 Retrieved from NewspaperSG National Library Board 2004 Dr Benjamin Sheares Istana Singapore Retrieved 4 April 2016 Dr Chew Shing Chai 10 August 2011 Good Presidents past The Straits Times Archived from the original on 17 August 2011 Retrieved 19 September 2017 a b A Quiet Determination PDF Eurasians Singapore June 2011 Archived from the original PDF on 24 August 2015 Retrieved 4 April 2016 Arunasalam Sitragandi Benjamin Sheares Singapore Infopedia National Library Board Retrieved 9 January 2015 Gwee Elizabeth 20 November 2002 A long overdue book on KKH The Straits Times Benjamin Sheares Bridge streetdirectory com Retrieved 9 January 2015 Continuing the medical legacy of Prof Benjamin Sheares singhealth com sg Retrieved 4 June 2020 Professor Soo Khee Chee named Benjamin Sheares Professor of Academic Medicine Duke NUS Archived from the original on 9 January 2015 Retrieved 9 January 2015 Duke NUS Medical School names its advisory colleges NUS Press Release Archived from the original on 23 August 2011 Retrieved 1 April 2011 Duke NUS Sheares College Archived from the original on 30 August 2011 Bibliography Edit Sheares J Joseph H H July 2005 Benjamin Henry Sheares MD MS FRCOG President Republic of Singapore 1971 1981 Obstetrician and Gynaecologist 1931 1981 A Biography 12th August 1907 12th May 1981 PDF Annals of the Academy of Medicine Singapore 34 6 25C 41C ISSN 0304 4602 PMID 16010377 Archived from the original PDF on 9 February 2006 Benjamin Sheares Istana Singapore Office of the President of the Republic of Singapore Government of Singapore 15 June 2006 Archived from the original on 23 August 2007 Retrieved 24 September 2007 Cornelius Takahama Vernon 10 November 1997 Benjamin Sheares Bridge Singapore Infopedia National Library Board Archived from the original on 30 September 2007 Retrieved 23 September 2007 Tan K H Tay E H 2003 The O amp G Fraternity amp Pioneers Professor Benjamin Henry Sheares The History of Obstetrics amp Gynaecology in Singapore Singapore Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society of Singapore National Heritage Board pp 412 461 ISBN 978 981 4045 68 1 Political officesPreceded byYusof Ishak President of Singapore1970 1981 Succeeded byC V Devan Nair Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Benjamin Sheares amp oldid 1143559447, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
