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Benjamin Sheares

Benjamin Henry Sheares (Dr) (b. 12 August 1907, Singapore - d. 12 May 1981, Singapore), second President of the Republic of Singapore. He became president at the age of 64 and held this office between 2 January 1971 until his death on 12 May 1981. He was also known as Singapore's father of modern obstetrics and gynaecology. He lends his name to several landmarks and buildings including the Benjamin Sheares Bridge, Singapore's longest bridge, and the Sheares Hall, a National University hostel.

Early Life
Sheares' early education was at established institutions such as the Methodist Girls' School, St Andrew's School and the Raffles Institution. In 1923, he was accepted into the King Edward VII College of Medicine in Singapore and was conferred the L.M.S. in March 1929.

Career
Medical Career
Sheares first distinguished himself in the field of obstetrics and gynaecology (O&G), obtaining several firsts for Singapore in this field. He was the first Singaporean to specialise in O&G; the first local to be appointed Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Malaya in Singapore, a post usually reserved for colonials; and the first medical practitioner in Singapore to use the lower segment method of performing Caesarean sections. He was a pioneer for this gynaecological procedure, which was named after him, and became internationally recognised after he published a paper on it in 1960. Despite criticism from his peers, he was a strong advocator of voluntary sterilisation and family planning.

He began his career in Obstetrician and Gynaecology (O&G) in April 1931 after serving two years at the Sepoy Lines General Hospital. He was awarded the Queen's Fellowship in 1940, a two-year postgraduate scholarship in Britain. but had to postpone this owing to the outbreak of World War II. During the Japanese Occupation, he continued to distinguish himself as a gynaecologist becoming head of Kandang Kerbau's (now KK Hospital's), Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. After the war years, the King Edward VII College of Medicine appointed him as acting Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. He was also active in the Family Planning Association.

Political Career
Sheares was made President a mere two months after Yusof Ishak's death. He maintained a humble life, despite his new position, returning to his home daily at Holt Road for lunch and dinner. He refused a higher salary for his role and took six months to agree to his third term as President in 1978. During the tenth year of his presidency, Sheares collapsed and fell into coma for five days before passing away. The popular president had 85,000 people turned up at the Istana to pay their last respects.

Time-line
1929 - 1931 : Assistant Medical Officer, Sepoy Lines General Hospital now known as the Singapore General Hospital.
1942 - 1945 : Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Kandang Kerbau Hospital and Medical Superintendant of the local patient's section.
1945 : Acting Professor of the King Edward College VII, College of Medicine.
1948 : Hon. Consultant of the British Military Hospital.
Jan 1948 : Member, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of England, the first Singapore obstetrician to qualify.
Jan 1948 : Acting Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Malaya.
Jan 1950 - Jun 1960 : Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Malaya in Singapore.
Dec 1951 : Observed in-teaching O&G in San Francisco Chicago, St. Louis, New York and Boston, using the remainder of the Queen's fellowship.
1957 : Founder member, the Academy of Medicine.
1960 : Retired and went into private practice. Appointed Hon. Consultant of the Kandang Kerbau Hospital.
early 1970 : Appointed to the Committee on Medical Specialisation.

Awards
1964 : Honourable 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 (Raja) (Republic of the Philippines).
1976 : Honorary fellow, Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecologists.
1971 : Honorary Life membership of the SRC.

In recognition for his contributions as personal obstetrician and gynaecologist to some Malaysian royal families, he was made a Dato of Kedah and of Kelantan.

Publications
Sheares published about 20 articles on O&G in professional journals. Some in the National Library collection include:

Sheares, B. H. (1977). Congenital and acquired atresia of the vagina [Microfilm: NL A00036280H]. Singapore: University of Singapore Library Microfilm Services.
(Call no.: R 618.15043 SHE)

Sheares, B. H. [1978]. Towards the eighties: Address by B. H. Sheares, President of Singapore at the opening of second session of the fourth parliament, 26 Dec. 1978. Singapore: Publicity Division, Ministry of Culture.
(Call no.: RCLOS 354.5957 SIN)

Sheares, B. H. (1981). The vital tasks ahead: Address by B. H. Sheares, President of the Republic of Singapore at the opening of the first session of the fifth parliament on Feb. 3 1981, and addenda to the President's address. Singapore: Information Division, Ministry of Culture.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 VIT)

Sheares, B. H. [1987]. A statistical study of congenital anomalies of the female genitalia in Singapore, with special reference to incidence, the types of anomalies, etiology based on economic status, and the incidence of these anomalies in infertility, abortion and dystocia [Microfiche: NL A00283735E]. Singapore: National University of Singapore Library Reprographic Services.
(Call no.: RSING 618.10430095957 SHE)

Family
Father: Edwin H. Sheares, Public Works Department Technical Supervisor.
Mother: Lilian J. Gomes.
Wife: Yeo Seh Geok (b. 6 March 1917 - ) whom he married in 1939, a trained midwife.
Daughter: Constance Alice Cheng Liu, previously head of the Singapore Museum.
Sons: Dr. Joseph Henry Hing Gian and Edwin Charles Hing Wee.



Author
Sitragandi Arunasalam



References 
Braga-Blake, M. (ed.). (1992). Singapore Eurasians: Memories and hopes (pp. 86-87). Singapore: Singapore Eurasian Association.
(Call no.: RSING 305 80405957 SIN)

Morais, J. V. (ed.) Who's who in Malaysia 1973-1974 & guide to Singapore (p. i.). Kuala Lumpur: J. V. Morais.
(Call no.: RCLOS 920.0595 WWM)

Mulliner, K. (1991). Historical dictionary of Singapore (pp. 133-134). Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow Press.
(Call no.: RSING 959. 57003 MUL )

Singapore Chronicles: A special commemorative history of Singapore (pp. 50-51). (1995). Hong Kong: Illustrated Magazine.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 SIN)

Tan, K. H., & Tay, E. H. (Eds.). (2003). The history of obstetrics and gynaecology in Singapore (pp. 412-461). Singapore: Obstetrical & Gynaecological Society of Singapore & National Heritage Board.

A man of humility who put the nation before self. (1981, May 13). The Straits Times, p. 8.

Lim, S. K. (1971, January 3). The new First Lady has grace and charm to win the hearts of all. The Straits Times, p. 3.

The peoples tribute. (1981, May 15). The Straits Times, p. 1.

Istana Singapore. (1999). History: Dr Benjamin Henry Sheares - second President of the Republic of Singapore. Retrieved October 23, 2002, from www.istana.gov.sg/history.html#sheares



The information in this article is valid as at 2002 and correct as far as we can ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.

Subject
Personalities>>Biographies>>Political Leaders
Personalities>>Biographies>>Community Leaders
Presidents--Singapore
Law and government>>Public administration

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