S. R. Nathan

Sellapan Ramanathan DUT PJG (IPA: /ˈsɛləpən rɑːməˈnɑːðən/; 3 July 1924 – 22 August 2016), often known as S. R. Nathan, was a Singaporean statesman who served as the sixth president of Singapore between 1999 and 2011. He was the longest-serving president in the country's history, holding office for two full terms. Prior to his presidency, Nathan held various key positions in the public service, including roles in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Security and Intelligence Division (SID). He also served as Singapore's High Commissioner to Malaysia and Ambassador to the United States.

Nathan was born in Singapore when it was a part of the Straits Settlements. He faced financial difficulties during his childhood, particularly after the death of his father. He left school during his teenage years and worked various jobs during the Japanese occupation of Singapore in World War II, including as a translator. After the war, he resumed his education and graduated with a Diploma in Social Studies from the University of Malaya's Singapore division in 1954. He began his civil service career in the Labour Ministry in 1955 and later moved to the Foreign Ministry.

In the course of his civil service career, Nathan held several senior appointments, including Director of the SID and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 1974, during the Laju incident, he volunteered to accompany members of the Japanese Red Army and Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine out of Singapore to ensure the safe release of civilian hostages, a move that drew national and international attention. He later served as Executive Chairman of The Straits Times Press from 1982 to 1988, High Commissioner to Malaysia from 1988 to 1990 and Ambassador to the United States from 1990 to 1996.

Nathan was elected President of Singapore in 1999 and re-elected in 2005, both times unopposed after other prospective candidates were deemed ineligible. His presidency, largely ceremonial in accordance with the Constitution, was marked by public engagement and support for charitable causes, including the launch of the President's Challenge in 2000. Following his retirement in 2011, he continued to contribute to public life through writing and advisory roles. He died in 2016 at the age of 92 and was accorded a state funeral.