S. R. Nathan

Sellapan Ramanathan DUT PJG (Tamil: செல்லப்பன் ராமநாதன், IPA: /ˈsɛləpən rɑːməˈnɑːðən/; 3 July 1924 – 22 August 2016), often known as S. R. Nathan, was a Singaporean civil servant, diplomat and politician 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.