Yusof bin Ishak
1st President of Singapore
In office 9 August 1965 – 23 November 1970
Prime Minister	Lee Kuan Yew (1959–1990)
Preceded by	Newly-created post (he was previously Yang di-Pertuan Negara of Singapore)
Succeeded by	Benjamin Henry Sheares
2nd Yang di-Pertuan Negara of Singapore
In office 3 December 1959 – 9 August 1965
Preceded by	Sir William Allmond Codrington Goode
Succeeded by	Himself (as President)
Born	12 August 1910 Perak, Federated Malay States
Died	23 November 1970 (aged 60) Singapore
Nationality	Singaporean
Spouse(s)	Noor Aishah
Alma mater	Victoria Bridge School; Raffles Institution
Occupation	Journalist
Religion	Islam
Website	www.istana.gov.sg

This is a Malay name; the name "Ishak" is a patronymic, not a family name, and the person should be referred to by the given name, "Yusof". The Arabic word bin (b.) or binti/binte (bt./bte.), if used, means "son of" or "daughter of" respectively.

Yusof bin Ishak (pronounced /ˈjʊsɒf bɪn ˈɪs.hɑːk/ YOOS-sof bɪn ΙS-haak) (12 August 1910 – 23 November 1970) was an eminent Singaporean politician and the first President of Singapore. His portrait appears on the Singapore Portrait Series currency notes introduced in 1999.

Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Notes 4 See also 5 References

[edit] Early life

Born on 12 August 1910 in the state of Perak, which was then part of the Federated Malay States, Yusof is the descendant of prominent Sumatran Malay Datuk Jannatun who migrated to Penang in 1759.

Yusof is of Minangkabau descent from his father's side while his mother is a native of Langkat region in Indonesia.^[1] His brother, Aziz Ishak, was a Malayan journalist and freedom fighter.

He received his primary education at Victoria Bridge School,^[2] and secondary education at Raffles Institution.

[edit] Career

Yusof was well known both as a journalist and the founder of the Malay newspaper Utusan Melayu prior to becoming head of state of Singapore. He was married to Noor Aishah.

He first served as Yang di-Pertuan Negara (head of state) between 1959 and 1965, remaining in office during the time that Singapore was part of the Federation of Malaysia between 1963 and 1965. Following Singapore's departure from Malaysia in 1965, he served as the first President of the Republic until his death in 1970.

Yusof is buried at Kranji State Cemetery.

[edit] Notes

[edit] See also

• Yusof Ishak Secondary School - a Secondary School in Singapore named in his honour.

[edit] References

• "Yusof Ishak". ISTANA Singapore : Office of the President of the Republic of Singapore, Government of Singapore. 2006-04-28. http://www.istana.gov.sg/FormerPresidents/YusofIshak. Retrieved 2007-09-20. 

Political offices
Preceded by Sir William Allmond Codrington Goode	Yang di-Pertuan Negara of Singapore 1959 – 1965	Succeeded by Abolished
Preceded by Post created	President of Singapore 1965 – 1970	Succeeded by Benjamin Henry Sheares

v • d • e Presidents of Singapore Yusof bin Ishak · Benjamin Henry Sheares · C.V. Devan Nair · Wee Kim Wee · Ong Teng Cheong · S.R. Nathan

Persondata
NAME	Yusof bin Ishak
ALTERNATIVE NAMES	Yusof Ishak
SHORT DESCRIPTION	First President of Singapore
DATE OF BIRTH	12 August 1910
PLACE OF BIRTH	Perak, Federated Malay States
DATE OF DEATH	23 November 1970
PLACE OF DEATH	Singapore