David Marshall (Singaporean politician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
David Marshall
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| Chief Minister of Singapore | |
| In office 6 April 1955 – 7 June 1956 |
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| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Governor | John Fearns Nicoll Robert Black William Goode |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Lim Yew Hock |
| Chairman of the Workers' Party | |
| In office 1957–1963 |
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| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Chiang Seok Keong (acting) |
| Member of the Legislative Assembly for Anson |
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| In office 15 July 1961 – 3 September 1963 |
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| Preceded by | Mohammed Baharuddin Ariff |
| Succeeded by | Govindaswamy Perumal |
| Member of Legislative Assembly for Cairnhill |
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| In office 2 April 1955 – 29 April 1957 |
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| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Succeeded by | Soh Ghee Soon |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
David Saul Mashal
12 March 1908 Singapore, Straits Settlements |
| Died | 12 December 1995 (aged 87) Singapore |
| Political party | Independent (1963–1995) |
| Other political affiliations |
Labour Front (1954–1957) Worker's Party (1957–1963) |
| Spouse |
Jean Mary Gray
(m. 1961) |
| Children | 4 |
| Parents | Saul Nassim Marshall (father) Flora Ezekiel Marshall (mother) |
| Alma mater | University of London |
| Profession |
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David Saul Marshall (born David Saul Mashal; 12 March 1908 – 12 December 1995) was an important Singaporean politician. He served as the first Chief Minister of Singapore from 1955 to 1956. Marshall strongly believed that Singapore should govern itself completely, which helped lead to its independence in 1965.
Contents
Early Life and Education
David Marshall was born in Singapore on 12 March 1908. His parents, Saul Nassim Mashal and Flora Ezekiel Kahn, were Sephardi Jewish people. They had moved to Singapore from Baghdad.
His family's original name was Mashal. It was changed to Marshall in 1920. David grew up in a strict Orthodox Jewish family.
Schooling and University
David Marshall attended several schools in Singapore. These included Saint Joseph's Institution, Saint Andrew's School, and Raffles Institution.
He then studied law at the University of London. After finishing his studies, he became a lawyer.
World War II Experience
In 1938, David Marshall volunteered for military service. He joined a British reserve unit called the Straits Settlements Volunteer Force. This was after Germany took over Czechoslovakia.
In February 1942, he fought against the Imperial Japanese Army. This happened during the final days of the Battle of Singapore.
Prisoner of War
After the British surrendered, Marshall became a prisoner-of-war (POW). He was first held at Changi Prison. Later, he was sent to a camp in Japan where he had to do forced labor.
Most of his close family had moved to Australia before the war. After the war ended, Marshall spent some time with them in Australia. He then returned to Singapore in 1946.
Legal and Political Career
After the war, David Marshall became a very successful criminal lawyer in Singapore. He was known for his strong arguments in court.
First Chief Minister
In 1955, David Marshall became the first Chief Minister of Singapore. This was a big step for Singapore. He led the Labour Front political party.
As Chief Minister, Marshall's main goal was to achieve "home rule" for Singapore. This meant Singapore would manage its own affairs, rather than being fully controlled by the British.
He went to London to negotiate for Singapore's self-government. However, the talks did not go as he hoped. He resigned in 1956 because he could not achieve full self-government at that time.
Later Political Roles
After resigning as Chief Minister, Marshall continued to be active in politics. He founded the Workers' Party in 1957 and served as its chairman.
He was also a Member of the Legislative Assembly. He represented the Cairnhill area and later the Anson area.
Diplomatic Service
In 1978, David Marshall became a diplomat. A diplomat represents their country in other nations. He served as Singapore's Ambassador to several countries.
He was an ambassador to France, Portugal, Spain, and Switzerland. In this role, he worked to protect Singapore's interests abroad. He also continued to share his opinions on Singapore's policies, even if he disagreed with some.
Personal Life and Legacy
David Marshall married Jean Mary Gray in 1961. Jean was born in Kent, England, in 1926. She came to Malaya in 1953 to work for the Red Cross.
They had four children together: Ruth Ann, Sarah Farha, Joanna Tamar, and Jonathan Mark. They also had six grandchildren.
Marshall retired from his diplomatic work in 1993. He passed away two years later, in 1995, at the age of 87. David Marshall is remembered for his strong belief in Singapore's independence and his dedication to public service.
See also
In Spanish: David Saul Marshall para niños
