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336:) to begin his medical training. 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. 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.
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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, his sister Alice continued to spirit him on with that dream, against his mother's wishes
378:
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
33:
297:
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, was an English technical supervisor of the Public Works Department, and raised in the
302:. 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.
410:
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
459:
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
402:
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
332:, 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
707:(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.
274:
Benjamin
Sheares remains the only Singaporean President elected for three terms and remained the longest-serving President at 10 years - a record surpassed in January 2010 by his successor
267:
persuaded him to remain 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. He was succeeded by
1123:
364:. 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.
371:
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.
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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
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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).
475:, Benjamin Henry Sheares Professorship in Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Benjamin Sheares Professorship in Academic Medicine, and the Benjamin Sheares College at the
719:(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.
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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
772:: President, Republic of Singapore 1971–1981; Obstetrician and Gynaecologist 1931–1981 : A Biography, 12th August 1907 – 12th May 1981"
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1211:: President, Republic of Singapore 1971–1981; Obstetrician and Gynaecologist 1931–1981: A Biography, 12th August 1907 – 12th May 1981"
356:. He continued to support his family, and assumed full responsibility for his family when his father died in 1940. Sheares was awarded the
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387:. He became Honorary Consultant after his retirement and continued teaching both undergraduate and postgraduate students at the hospital.
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persuaded him and Sheares, aged 70 then, took on his third term as president. Sheares held the office until his death in 1981.
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which would grant him a two-year postgraduate training in Britain. However, his studies were postponed due to the
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According to a medical assistant of his, Sheares had possibly donated his entire salary as president to charity.
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471:, Sheares Avenue and Sheares Link are named after him. In academia, the student's residence Sheares Hall at the
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Sheares retired in 1960 and was in private practice before being elected as the president of Singapore by the
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Tan, K.H.; Tay, E.H. (2003). "The O&G Fraternity & Pioneers – Professor Benjamin Henry Sheares".
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Sheares married Yeo Seh Geok Sheares in 1939 and they had three children together. Their daughter,
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260:, the former president of the Republic, on 23 November 1970. He was sworn in on 2 January 1971.
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for those born without one. A modification of it is still used for sex change operations today.
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The Straits Times, p. 1 Retrieved from NewspaperSG; National Library Board. (2004)
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1124:"Professor Soo Khee Chee named Benjamin Sheares Professor of Academic Medicine"
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823:(Thesis). Singapore: Department of History, National University of Singapore.
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405:"God has blessed Bennie especially after the way he looked after us and me."
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1255:. Istana Singapore: Office of the President of the Republic of Singapore,
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313:. He was a quiet boy who kept much to himself and loved to play at
1305:. Singapore: Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society of Singapore;
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Gwee, Elizabeth (20 November 2002). "A long overdue book on KKH".
732:. The Straits Times, Retrieved from Newspaper SG. 16 August 1994.
455:
Tomb of President Benjamin Sheares at Kranji State Cemetery
1303:
The History of Obstetrics & Gynaecology in Singapore
1099:"Continuing the medical legacy of Prof Benjamin Sheares"
241:(12 August 1907 – 12 May 1981) was a Singaporean
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Academic staff of the National University of Singapore
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As a young child, Sheares was affectionately known as
1550:
Honorary Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
1150:"Duke-NUS Medical School names its advisory colleges"
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607:Honorary Knight Grand Cross of The Most Honourable
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987:
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919:. Eurasians Singapore. June 2011. Archived from
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1276:Cornelius-Takahama, Vernon (10 November 1997).
479:are all named after him. The Sheares Block in
390:Sheares also created a technique to create an
16:Singaporean politician, physician and academic
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1218:Annals of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore
821:The life of Benjamin Henry Sheares 1907–1981
779:Annals of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore
328:before transferring in 1922 to study at the
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1570:Saint Andrew's School, Singapore alumni
1197:Sheares, J. (Joseph) H.H. (July 2005).
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758:Sheares, J. (Joseph) H.H. (July 2005).
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705:Parliamentary Debates: Official Report.
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344:Upon graduation, Sheares worked as an
245:and academic who served as the second
1600:Singaporean people of Spanish descent
1595:Singaporean people of British descent
1590:Singaporean people of English descent
1585:Singaporean people of Chinese descent
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988:Dr Chew Shing Chai (10 August 2011).
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61:2 January 1971 – 12 May 1981
1513:Powers of the president of Singapore
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845:. President's Office. Archived from
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431:Sheares with his family, circa 1946.
1152:. NUS Press Release. Archived from
812:
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249:from 1971 until his death in 1981.
206:King Edward VII College of Medicine
187:Yeo Seh Geok Sheares (m. 1939–1981)
13:
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948:. Istana Singapore. Archived from
679:"Remembering Mrs Benjamin Sheares"
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553:Star of the Republic of Indonesia
376:Royal Postgraduate Medical School
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210:Royal Postgraduate Medical School
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287:National University of Singapore
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1045:Lo, Tien Yin (22 August 1988).
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1259:. 15 June 2006. Archived from
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1:
896:Chia, P. (27 December 1970).
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1047:"Local artists gain respect"
419:succeeded him as president.
7:
730:"How they came to be named"
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583:, Rank of Raja (GCS) (1976)
491:
317:, where his father worked.
10:
1616:
1560:Raffles Institution alumni
1545:Singaporean gynaecologists
1176:"Duke-NUS Sheares College"
1126:. Duke-NUS. Archived from
869:"Benjamin Sheares College"
681:. Duke-NUS. Archived from
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486:
483:was also named after him.
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1278:"Benjamin Sheares Bridge"
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898:Sheares to be president.
324:Sheares was educated at
293:Early life and education
285:and Sheares Hall at the
154:Cause of death
1565:Singaporean Protestants
1555:Presidents of Singapore
1391:Presidents of Singapore
1307:National Heritage Board
1280:. Singapore Infopedia,
1257:Government of Singapore
1023:. Singapore Infopedia,
914:"A Quiet Determination"
703:Singapore. Parliament.
659:Benjamin Sheares Bridge
469:Benjamin Sheares Bridge
443:, curator, and writer.
369:lower Caesarian section
352:and a professor at the
350:Kandang Kerbau Hospital
283:Benjamin Sheares Bridge
37:Official portrait, 1971
1580:Singaporean Christians
1466:Presidential elections
1447:Tharman Shanmugaratnam
1342:President of Singapore
1282:National Library Board
1025:National Library Board
990:"Good Presidents past"
654:President of Singapore
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381:president of Singapore
367:Sheares pioneered the
247:president of Singapore
239:Benjamin Henry Sheares
115:Benjamin Henry Sheares
49:President of Singapore
946:"Dr Benjamin Sheares"
843:"Dr Benjamin Sheares"
462:Kranji State Cemetery
454:
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289:are named after him.
271:on 23 October 1981.
168:Kranji State Cemetery
1309:. pp. 412–461.
1288:on 30 September 2007
579:Grand Collar of the
354:University of Malaya
1247:on 9 February 2006.
1078:streetdirectory.com
808:on 9 February 2006.
516:First class of the
481:Raffles Institution
330:Raffles Institution
326:St. Andrew's School
256:after the death of
132:Straits Settlements
1327:Political offices
1253:"Benjamin Sheares"
1182:on 30 August 2011.
1021:"Benjamin Sheares"
717:Sheares in a coma.
551:Fist Class of the
457:
441:arts administrator
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358:Queen's Fellowship
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1349:Succeeded by
1316:978-981-4045-68-1
1263:on 23 August 2007
1156:on 23 August 2011
1130:on 9 January 2015
1103:singhealth.com.sg
1000:on 17 August 2011
994:The Straits Times
974:The Straits Times
952:on 8 January 2016
926:on 24 August 2015
875:on 30 August 2011
849:on 8 January 2016
819:Kaur, R. (1987).
685:on 9 January 2015
609:Order of the Bath
581:Order of Sikatuna
437:Constance Sheares
392:artificial vagina
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