Gan Eng Seng

Infobox Person
name = Gan Eng Seng 颜永成


image_size = 96
caption =
dead = yes
birth_date = 1844
birth_place = Melaka, Malaya
death_date = death date and age|df=yes|1899|9|9|1844|0|0
death_place = Amoy Street, Singapore
occupation = Chief Compradore,
Chinese pioneer,
philanthropist
spouse = 5 (See table below)
children = 7 sons, 2 daughters
Awards/Honours= Gan Eng Seng (zh-s|颜永成; Pinyin: Yan Yongcheng; 1844—1899) was one of the early Chinese pioneers of Singapore known for his generosity to many charitable causes during the era of the British Straits Settlements of Malaya and Singapore. Some of his most recognised contributions known were the setting up of Gan Eng Seng School, the Thong Chai Medical Institution, Tan Tock Seng Hospital and the Ee Hoe Hean Club.

Life

Gan was of Hokkien Chinese descent, born and educated in Melaka, and the eldest son of five in his family. His forefathers emigrated from Fujian Province, China to Malaya. Owing to poor circumstances, he probably had an elementary school education in which he learnt to read and write in simple English and keep accounts. After his father's death, sixteen year old Gan was involved in the nutmeg business on a very small scale. Lim, "Gan Eng Seng", pp. 128—135. ]

Later, he was taken on as an apprentice by Messrs. Guthrie and Company. Gan was diligent and capable, and his ability won him the recognition and keen interest of Thomas Scott, one of the partners in the company. Scott was one of the early British pioneers responsible for developing Tanjung Pagar and the port of Singapore. [cite book | last = Tanjong Pagar Citizens' Consultative Committee | title = Tanjong Pagar: Singapore's Cradle of Development | publisher = Singapore: Tanjong Pagar Citizens' Consultative Committee | date = 1989 | pages =p.135 ] Eventually, Gan was promoted to the post of Assistant Storekeeper and then Chief Storekeeper of the company. In 1874, he became the company's Chief Compradore, a position which he held for the next 25 years. Thomas Scott later helped to finance some of Gan's early business ventures, one of which was to supply labour and transport to the Tanjong Pagar Dock Company which helped Gan to make most of his personal fortunes.

Family

Gan married his first wife, Koh Chwee Neo, at the age of eighteen and in 1859 adopted his first son, Gan Tiang Tock, who was an important partner in the building of his fortune. He had in total five wives, seven sons and two daughters. However, only two of his children were born by his wives; his other children were mostly adopted, a customary practice which was then considered auspicious. GESSOSA, "Our Founder: Gan Eng Seng", pp. 18—21. ] His immediate family members were:

Gan Eng Seng School

Although Gan had little education, he realised its value as he prospered and became wealthy. His dream to build a school for the poor which taught both English and Chinese [Probably Cantonese or Hokkien as Mandarin was not widely used at that time.] was fulfilled in 1885, when he built the "Anglo-Chinese Free School" for boys in some shophouses in Telok Ayer Street (unconnected with the other Anglo-Chinese School founded a year later by the late Bishop W.F. Oldham). In 1923, it was renamed to Gan Eng Seng School (GESS) in his honour. [ GESSOSA, "1899—1941: Board of Trustees and The Pre-War Years", pp. 33—47 ]

Gan Eng Seng School is unique among the schools in Singapore being the only one initiated, established and maintained by a local citizen with a gift of freehold property, buildings and adequate funds until his demise. Most other schools of the time were established by missionary or communal organisations.

Before it became a government school in 1938, it had on its Board of Trustees fellow Chinese pioneers such as Tan Keong Saik, Ho Yang Peng, Wee Theam Tew, Lee Cheng Yan, S.J. Chan, Wee Swee Teow, Song Ong Siang, and Dr. Lim Boon Keng. Under their management, Gan Eng Seng School was able to serve the local community as a self-funded school for nearly forty years without interference.

In later generations, some of Gan Eng Seng's descendants choose to return to serve the school:

*Three sons of the founder, Gan Tiang Kwee, Gan Tiang Choon and Gan Tiang Tok, were on the Board of Trustees. Dr. Dabbs, "The History of Gan Eng Seng School", pp.109—120. ]

*Gan Hock Chye, grandson of Gan Eng Seng was a pupil at the school and later return to serve as the Master of Gan House and Committee Member of the GESS Old Students' Association in the 1950s.

*Gan Kee Soon, one of the great grandsons of Gan Eng Seng was a Math teacher in GESS at its Anson Road site from 1960 to 1969 teaching Pre-U classes.

As of 2007, it is located at 1 Henderson Road after it has moved eight times during its 122-year history; the most ever known in Singapore schools due to expansion needs. [cite news | title = School gets its seventh home: Gan Eng Seng's pioneering spirit lives on | date = 13 July 1989 | publisher = The Straits Times | page = 16 ]

Gan also founded a school for the poor in the village of Sam-toh in Fujian Province, where his forefathers were born, and helped to finance and maintain the Tranquerah Chinese Free School in Melaka. He also enabled young men of promise to realise their potential by paying for their university education. An example was the case of Wee Theam Tew, who gave up a clerical post with Messr. Macalister & Co. and proceeded to England to further his studies in law and qualify for the Bar in 1911. [ GESSOSA, "1885-1899: Our Pioneering Years", p. 35—37. ]

Thong Chai Medical Institution

The Thong Chai Medical Institution was another major charity which Gan strongly backed and financed. It was established in 1867 and is the oldest charitable institution in Singapore. It began treating the poor of all races and religions in a rented shophouse at 31 Upper Pickering Street. In 1975, it was relocated to 50 Chin Swee Road and till today, the institution continues to provide free medical consultation and herbal medicines to all.

Tan Tock Seng Hospital

Gan was always among the first to respond to pleas for donations, giving thousands of dollars to local hospitals. He also helped to pay for coffins to bury the poor. The annual report of Tan Tock Seng Hospital for 1892, made mentioned of the generous gift by Gan of a freehold property at Rochor to the hospital. The hospital is still serving the public and came into the international spotlight when it was designated as the sole treatment centre for the SARS epidemic which struck the country in 2003.

Ee Hoe Hean Club

In 1895, Gan was one of the co-founders of the Ee Hoe Hean Club, a social-cum-business club where like-minded Chinese businessmen could mingle and exchange ideas. Its members included notable Chinese pioneers such as Dr. Lim Boon Keng, Tan Kah Kee, Lim Nee Soon et cetera. It was originally located on Duxton Hill but moved to Bukit Pasoh Road in 1925. The club plays an active role in community services and charity work to this day. [cite web | last = Cornelius-Takahama | first = Vernon | url = http://infopedia.nlb.gov.sg/articles/SIP_526_2005-01-07.html | title = Lim Nee Soon | accessdate = 2007-08-28 | publisher = National Library Board Singapore ]

Death

On 9 September 1899, Gan Eng Seng died at the age of 55 in his house at No. 87 Amoy Street. His total assets were worth an estimated S$550,000. He was buried at "Leng Kee Sua" somewhere on the hill by the side where Leng Kee Road runs today. Due to redevelopment of the area, his body was disinterred and reburied in a family grave at Bukit Brown Cemetery. After the death of his father, Gan Tiang Tok continued the family business for three years, though by the turn of century it was no longer so lucrative. Tiang Tok was dogged by ill health from 1903 till his death in 1927 at the age of 68.

Commemoration

In April 2008, Gan's life and generosity to many charitable causes are currently being showcased in a permanent gallery of the Peranakan Museum (former Tao Nan School building) at Armenian Street. The gallery titled "Public Life: Making a difference" (Level 3) honours "Peranakans" (Straits Chinese), who were prominent public figures and philanthropists such as Gan, Singapore pioneer Tan Kim Seng and former Cabinet Minister Lim Kim San. [cite book | last = Peranakan Museum | first = | title = Peranakan Museum Visitor Guide - Enter the world of the Peranakans | publisher = Singapore: National Heritage Board | date = 2008 | isbn = ]

The Peranakan Museum presents a Southeast Asian-wide view of Peranakan culture and houses a comprehensive collection of Peranakan artefacts. The museum is the latest addition to the National Heritage Board’s family of museums and is managed by the Asian Civilisations Museum (ACM). The ACM staff consulted academics and collaborated with members of the Peranakan community to bring the museum to life. [cite web | last = | first = | url = http://www.peranakanmuseum.sg/themuseum/abtpernakanmuseum.asp | title = About Peranakan Museum | accessdate = 2008-04-27 | publisher = Singapore: National Heritage Board ]

ee also

*Gan Eng Seng School Founding Site
*Tan Tock Seng
*Lee Choon Seng

References

Notes

Bibliography

*cite book | last = Dr. Dabbs | first = Donald M. | title = The History of Gan Eng Seng School | publisher = Singapore: Double-Six Press | date = 1994
*cite book | last = Lim | first = Lee Chin & et al | title = Pioneers of Singapore | publisher = Singapore: Asiapac Books | date = 2004 | isbn = 981-05-4290-9
*cite book | last = Gan Eng Seng School Old Students' Association | title = The Pictorial History of Gan Eng Seng School | publisher = Singapore: Stamford Press | date = 2006 | isbn = 981-05-5351-X
*cite book | last = Song | first = Ong Siang | title = One Hundred Years' History of the Chinese in Singapore | publisher = Oxford University Press | date = 1984 | pages = pp.273—274 | isbn = 0195826035
*cite book | last = Turnbull | first = Constance Mary | title = A History of Singapore: 1819—1988 | publisher = Oxford University Press | date = 1989 | page = p.100 | isbn = 0195889436
*cite book | last = Yen | first = Ching-Hwang | title = Community and Politics: The Chinese in Colonial Singapore and Malaysia | publisher = Singapore: Times Academic Press | date = 1995 | page = p.211 | isbn = 9812100628
*cite book | last = Yong | first = C. F. | title = Chinese Leadership and Power in Colonial | publisher = Singapore: Times Academic Press | date = 1992 | page = pp. 4, 6—7, 12. | isbn = 9812100288

External links

* [http://infopedia.nlb.gov.sg/articles/SIP_848_2004-12-28.html Biography of Gan Eng Seng]
* [http://www.gess.edu.sg/gess/main/ Gan Eng Seng School website]
* [http://www.ttsh.com.sg/ Tan Tock Seng Hospital website]