Tan Tock Seng | |
|---|---|
陳篤生 | |
.jpg) Tanc. 1840 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1798 |
| Died | 24 February 1850(1850-02-24) (aged 51–52) |
| Resting place | Outram Hill,Singapore |
| Spouse | Lee Seo Neo (李淑娘) |
| Children | 5 |
| Parent(s) | Tan Guat Teong (father) Kow Geok Neo (mother) |
| Known for | Tan Tock Seng Hospital |
Tan Tock Seng (Chinese:陳篤生;pinyin:Chén Dǔshēng;Pe̍h-ōe-jī:Tân Tok-seng; 1798 – 24 February 1850) was aMalacca-born merchant and philanthropist fromSingapore.
Tan Tock Seng was born inMalacca in 1798 to a ChineseFujianese immigrant father and localPeranakan mother.[1] He left for Singapore in 1819 at the age of 21, shortly afterStamford Raffles established a trading port on the island under theBritish East India Company.[2][3] Tan made a living by selling vegetables, fruits, fish and other produce in the newly-built city center and eventually earned enough to open a store atBoat Quay in 1827. The store was situated at the mouth of theSingapore River.[4]
He then invested in the J. H. Whitehead of Shaw, Whitehead & Company and engaged in propertyspeculation, becoming wealthy in the process and acquiring large tracts of prime land. Tan owned 50 acres (200,000 m²) near theTanjong Pagar railway station, disjointed land parcels from thePadang leading up to High Street and Tank Road, several Ellenborough Building shophouses.[4][5]
Tan then became an influential Chinese leader and was the firstAsian to be appointedJustice of the Peace by GovernorWilliam John Butterworth.[5] He was also granted the title ofKapitan Cina (Captain of the Chinese) for settling feuds and assisting new Chinese immigrants upon their arrival to Singapore.[4] The founding ofThian Hock Keng temple was led by Tan for theHokkien community and still exists atTelok Ayer Street today.[6]
His most famous donation was a $5,000 contribution to the construction of the Chinese Pauper Hospital in 1844, which was named after its benefactor on its opening and referred to colloquially as "Tan Tock Seng hospital".[3] They hospital later relocated to the corner ofSerangoon Road andBalestier Road in 1860, and a Female wing was funded by Tan's widow Lee Seo Neo in 1867.[3]
Tan died on 24 February 1850 at the age of 52 after falling ill, leaving behind his wife, three sons and three daughters.[7] His initial burial location is unknown but his remains were re-interred at Outram Hill around 1882.[8] The modern dayTan Tock Seng Hospital and the adjacent road Jalan Tan Tock Seng still bears his name.[3]
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