Marshall, David Saul

▪ 1996

      Singaporean lawyer, politician, and diplomat (b. March 12, 1908, Singapore—d. Dec. 12, 1995, Singapore), was one of the founding fathers of the city-state of Singapore and, after the authoritarian People's Action Party (PAP) took over (1959), consistently and unequivocally spoke out against the government's repressive policies. Though he was quick to praise the economic progress achieved by the PAP, he condemned what he saw as the resultant loss of a sense of humanity. Marshall earned a law degree in Britain and was called to the bar in 1937. After service in the colonial army in World War II, during which he was captured (1942) by the Japanese and forced to work in the coal mines in Hokkaido, Japan, he became a successful criminal defense lawyer. He had the reputation of never losing, and his courtroom effectiveness was cited as a reason the PAP abolished the jury system. In the early 1950s during Singapore's struggle for independence, Marshall entered politics and cofounded the Labour Front. He was elected (1955) to the Legislative Assembly and, after forming a coalition government, became Singapore's first chief minister. Following the failure of two missions to London for independence talks, Marshall resigned (1956) his position. He remained active in politics until 1972 and practiced law until 1978. For the next 15 years, he served as ambassador to France (1978-93), Portugal (1981-93), Spain (1981-93), and Switzerland (1990-93). Upon his return to Singapore, Marshall resumed his law practice—and his outspoken criticism of the government. In 1994 he was one of the very few citizens publicly to oppose the caning of the U.S. teenager Michael Fay as punishment for vandalism.

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▪ chief minister of Singapore

born March 12, 1908, Singapore

died Dec. 12, 1995, Singapore

      politician, lawyer, and diplomat who was the chief minister (1955–56) of Singapore's first elected government.

      Marshall was the son of Baghdadi Jewish immigrants who moved to the polyglot and multiracial city-state of Singapore. He enjoyed a highly successful career at the bar as a criminal lawyer before entering Singapore politics in the early 1950s, during the struggle for independence from Great Britain. He organized the socialist Labour Front party and was elected to the Legislative Assembly in April 1955 under Singapore's new constitution. He formed a centre-left coalition government composed of the Labour Front and several other parties and thus became the state's first elected chief minister.

      Marshall led an unsuccessful mission to London late in 1955 for talks on obtaining full independence from Great Britain, and when a second mission in 1956 also failed, he resigned as chief minister. In 1962 he founded and became president of the Workers' Party, which, however, was unsuccessful at the polls. Though subsequently much less involved in political life, he remained a major public figure and served as Singapore's ambassador to France from 1978 to 1993.

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