Tan Tock Seng
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Tan Tock Seng (b. 1798, Malacca, Malaysia - d. 24 February 1850, Singapore), a Hokkien merchant, landowner, entrepreneur and philanthropist. Tan started as a humble vegetable seller and rose to become one of Singapore's early Chinese leaders. He was the first Asian to be appointed Justice of the Peace (JP). In 1844, he helped set up a hospital for the poor which now bears his name.
Early life
Tan left Malacca and came to Singapore in 1819 at the age of 21. The enterprising young man started as a vegetable seller, bringing produce from the countryside to sell in the city. He was hardworking and scrimped on every cent he made. Eventually, with his savings, he opened a shop along the riverside at Boat Quay in 1827.
Businessman
Through a joint business in land speculation with J. H. Whitehead of Shaw, Whitehead & Co., Tan eventually became a wealthy businessman. His landed properties included 50 acres of land where the railway station at Tanjong Pagar is located, and the plot of land from the Padang to High Street and Tank Road. He also owned a block of shop houses at Ellenborough Building and a 14-acre fruit plantation opposite the St Andrew's Mission Hospital.
Philanthropist
Tan contributed generously to charity and became a renowned philanthropist amongst the Chinese. He was known to provide burial costs for the Chinese poor. His most famous gesture was the donation of Spanish $7,000 to the building of the Chinese Pauper's Hospital (later to be named after him , the Tan Tock Seng Hospital or TTSH) in 1844 at Pearl's Hill. The building was designed by John Turnbull Thomson and it was opened in 1849. He was also a founder of the Thian Hock Keng Temple at Telok Ayer Street, Singapore's oldest temple, which had been the centre of worship for the Fujian Chinese.
Tan Tock Seng was the first Asian to be made a Justice of the Peace by the Governor Butterworth. His role in helping the early Chinese immigrants settle disputes earned him the title "Captain of the Chinese."
Tan died at age 52. His grave lies along the grassy slope next to Jubilee Church, 256 Outram Road, Singapore.
Family
Father: Whay Teck.
Brother: Two brothers in China, one of whom was Oo Long.
Wife: Lee Seo Neo, who also contributed financially to the Tan Tock Seng Hospital with the money she inherited upon Tan's death. The women's ward at Tan Tock Seng is thus named after her.
Sons: Three sons, namely Kim Ching, Swee Lim and Teck Guan. Eldest, Kim Cheng, continued in both his father's entrepreneurial work and charitable contributions. Kim Cheng helped oversee the establishment of Tan Tock Seng Hospital and its move to Balestier. Kim Cheng's business of running rice mills extended to Thailand and Vietnam. He was even conferred the title Consul of Siam by the Thai King.
Daughters: Three.
Author
Jenny Tien
References
Brazil, D. (1991). Street smart: Singapore (p. 214). Singapore: Times Books International.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 BRA)
Buckley, C. B. (1984). An anecdotal history of old times in Singapore 1819-1867 (p. 530). Singapore: Oxford University Press.
(Call no.: R 959.57 BUC)
K. D. Dhoraisingham, & Samuel, D. S. (2003). Tan Tock Seng : Pioneer : His life, times, contributions and legacy. Kota Kinabalu : Natural History Publications (Borneo).
(Call no.: RSING 338.04092 KAM)
Lee, S. H. (1994). 150 years of caring: The legacy of Tan Tock Seng Hospital (p. 14). Singapore: The Tan Tock Seng Hospital.
(Call no.: R 362.11095957 LEE)
Mulliner, K. (1991). Historical Dictionary of Singapore (p. 149). Metuchen, NJ. : Scarecrow Press.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57003 MUL)
Moore, D. (1969). The first 150 years of Singapore (p. 245). Singapore: Donald Moore Press.
(Call no.: R 959.57 MOO)
Samuel, D. S. (1991). Singapores heritage: Through places of historial interest (p. 67). Singapore: Elixir Consultancy Service.
(Call no.: R 959.57 SAM)
Song, O. S. (1984). One hundred years' history of the Chinese in Singapore (pp. 61, 66). Singapore: Oxford University Press.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 SON)
Singapore days of old: A special commemorative history of Singapore published on the 10th anniversary of Singapore Tatler (pp. 50-53). (1992). Hong Kong: Illustrated Magazine.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 SIN)
Kwok, K. W. (1998). Tan Tock Seng 1798-1850: Merchant, philathropist. Retrieved January 22, 2005, from Knowledge Net Web site: www.knowledgenet.com.sg/singapore/SG/BI/BITTS001.asp?next=0
Further Readings
Lee, S. H. (1994). 150 years of caring: The legacy of Tan Tock Seng Hospital. Singapore: Tan Tock Seng Hospital.
(Call no.: RSING 362.11095957 LEE)
Singapore Free Press. [1935]. One hundred years of progress: centenary number, October 8, 1935 (p. 6). [Singapore: Singapore Fress Press].
(Call no.: RSEA 959.57 SIN)
Tan Tock Seng Hospital. (2000). Tan Tock Seng Hospital: A distinguished past, a vision for the future. Singapore: Tan Tock Seng Hospital.
(Call no.: RSING 362.11095957 TAN)
Low, Y. L. (1990, April-Sept). Founding father. Singapore Tatler, 138-141.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 ST)
Low, Y. L. (1983, November 6). Singapores first heroes. The Straits Times, p. 18.
Xin jia po feng tu zhi. (1994, December 11). Lianhe Zaobao, p. 20.
Singapore Broadcasting Corporation. (1993). Pioneers [Videotape]. Singapore: SBC.
(Call no.: RAV 959.57 PIO)
Tan Tock Seng Hospital. (2004.). Our Founder. Retrieved January 22, 2005, from www.ttsh.com.sg/asp/abo/abo20.asp
List of Images
Lee, S. H. (1994). 150 years of caring: The legacy of Tan Tock Seng Hospital (p. 14). Singapore: Tan Tock Seng Hospital.
(Call no.: RSING 362.11095957 LEE)
Singapore days of old: A special commemorative history of Singapore published on the 10th anniversary of Singapore Tatler (p. 50). (1992). Hong Kong: Illustrated Magazine.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 SIN)
The information in this article is valid as at 2008 and correct as far as we can ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the library for further reading materials on the topic.
Subject
Personalities>>Biographies>>Community leaders
Tan, Tock Seng, 1798-1850
Philanthropists--Singapore--Biography
Businessman--Singapore--Biography
People and communities>>Social groups and communities
Business, finance and industry>>Business organization>>Business enterprises