Lee Kuan Yew — a life in pictures

Born on September 16, 1923, as a British subject in Singapore, he lived through British colonial rule, the Japanese occupation, the 1963 union with Malaysia and its expulsion after two stormy years. Lee speaking to a packed lunchtime rally crowd at Fullerton Square in Singapore on December 20, 1976. Jerry Seh / New Nation / AFP Photo

He married his wife Kwa Geok Choo when they were both studying at Cambridge. She went on to become one of Singapore’s top lawyers after they returned in 1950, while he eventually pursued his lifelong vocation in politics. File photo of the couple meeting Japanese Emperor Hirohito and his wife Empress Nagako, in the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Oct 15, 1968. AP Photo / File

Photo from November 12, 1978 showing Lee, left, welcoming then-Chinese vice premier Deng Xiaoping in Singapore. Lee once told Deng: ‘Whatever we have done, you can do better because we are the descendants of the landless peasants of south China.’ Zhang Guiyu / Xinhua / AP Photo

Lee talking to then-prime minister of Canada Pierre Trudeau on Jan 7, 1969. AP Photo/ File

Lee on Sep 21, 1963 hoisted by supporters after leading his People’s Action Party to a landslide victory in the elections in Singapore. He went on to lead Singapore into a merger with the Federation of Malaya that year, believing that was the only answer to resource-poor Singapore’s survival. AP Photo / File

After two tumultuous years of ethnic riots and bloodshed, an emotional Lee announced to the nation on August 9, 1965, that Singapore had been separated from the federation. But he vowed: ‘Singapore will survive.’ Reuters TV/Files

Under his leadership Singapore grew from an impoverished third-world nation once called a ‘poor little market in a dark corner of Asia’, into a financial powerhouse and one of the region’s tiger economies.

Former US president George W Bush welcoming Lee, then senior minister, to the White House on May 1, 2002. Mr Bush paid tribute to Lee after he passed away on Monday, saying, ‘The Singapore he leaves behind is an influential force for stability and prosperity and a friend to the United States.’ Tim Solan / AFP Photo

Leaders in Asia — from Beijing to Hanoi to Manila — and the West, sought his counsel on economic, political and social issues. Majesty Queen Elizabeth II sharing a toast with Singapore’s minister mentor Lee during a state banquet at the Istana presidential palace in Singapore on 17 March 2006. Jonathon Drake / EPA

Today, the nation of 5.5 million people boasts a GDP per capita of US$55,182 (Dh202,700) and is one of the world’s richest countries. Lee in Kuala Lumpur on Sep 5, 2001 Bazuki Muhammad / Reuters

The first prime minister and founding father of modern Singapore Lee Kuan Yew died on Monday at the age of 91. Here is a look at his life and legacy.

For his obituary, read Lee Kuan Yew: Singapore's strict but devoted founding father