Goh Chok Tong (1941-…) served as prime minister of Singapore from 1990 to 2004. A prominent member of the ruling People’s Action Party, Goh succeeded Lee Kuan Yew as prime minister. Goh’s previous posts had included minister for trade and industry, minister for health, minister for defense, and first deputy prime minister. In 2004, Goh stepped down as prime minister. He became senior minister in the cabinet of the new prime minister, Lee Hsien Loong. Goh also became chairman of Singapore’s central bank. In May 2011, Goh announced his retirement from politics.
Goh was born on May 20, 1941, in Singapore. He attended the Raffles Institution and the University of Singapore, where he studied economics. He also attended Williams College in the United States. Goh became managing director of Neptune Orient Lines, Singapore’s national shipping line, in 1973. He first won election to Parliament in 1976. In 1977, he resigned his position at the shipping line and became senior minister of state for finance in Lee’s government.
