Wong Lin Ken
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Wong Lin Ken | |
|---|---|
| 黄麟根 | |
 Wong c. 1968–1976 | |
| Ambassador of Singapore to the United States | |
| In office 7 April 1967 – December 1968 | |
| President | Yusof Ishak |
| Prime Minister | Lee Kuan Yew |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Ernest Steven Monteiro |
| Minister for Home Affairs | |
| In office 6 September 1970 – 15 September 1972 | |
| Prime Minister | Lee Kuan Yew |
| Preceded by | Ong Pang Boon |
| Succeeded by | E. W. Barker |
| Member of Parliament representing Alexandra Constituency | |
| In office 6 May 1968 – 6 December 1976 | |
| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Succeeded by | Tan Soo Khoon (PAP) |
| Majority |
|
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1931 Penang, Straits Settlements |
| Died | 16 February 1983 (aged 51) Singapore |
| Party | People's Action Party |
| Spouse | Lilli Wong |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | University of Malaya University of London |
Wong Lin Ken (Chinese: 黄麟根; 1931 – 16 February 1983) was a Singaporean politician and historian. He served as the first Ambassador of Singapore to the United States. A member of the People's Action Party (PAP), Wong also served as the Minister for Home Affairs from 1970 to 1972 and the Member of Parliament (MP) representing Alexandra Constituency from 1968 to 1976.
Wong was born in 1931 in Penang, which was then a part of the Straits Settlements. He attended St. George's Boys School in Balik Pulau and Penang Free School. He later won a Government Bursary to study at the University of Malaya and a Queen's Scholar to study at the University of London. In 1959, he got a doctorate in history.[1]
In 1953, Wong went on an expedition trip led by G. de G. Sieveking, including Emily Sadka, where they found masonry in Malay fortifications and the remains of an ancient Chinese trading ship.[2][3]
Academic career
Wong worked as a senior lecturer in history at the University of Singapore and was also the chairman of the Adult Education Board. He briefly left the university from 1967 to 1968 when he was appointed as the Ambassador of Singapore to the United States[4] and returned to the university after the stint.[4]
