Gan Eng Seng alias Yen Hsi K’un1 (b. 1844, Malacca, Malaysia–d. 9 September 1899,2 Singapore) was a Chinese ethnic leader,3 labour contractor, and a landed proprietor of early Singapore who contributed considerably to charities as well as hospitals and schools.4 He was held in high esteem, particularly for his integrity, by the partners of Guthrie and Company, where he worked faithfully for most of his life.5 Gan Eng Seng was also a founding member of the Ee Hoe Hean Club, a clubhouse for Chinese millionaires that was first set up at Duxton Hill.6
Early life
Born into a poor Hokkien family in Malacca, Gan, the eldest son, emigrated from Fukien Province (now Fujian) in China to Malaya. Gan probably had a rudimentary education that allowed him to read and write English, as well as keep accounts. Arriving in Singapore at the age of 16 after his father's death, Gan started out working at a nutmeg plantation. He joined Guthrie and Company as an apprentice in 1861,7 and rose through the ranks from assistant storekeeper to chief storekeeper and finally, the company's chief comprador – a position he held for 25 years.8
His golden goose proved to be the supply of Chinese labour and transport for the Tanjong Pagar Dock Company,9 under a company called Chop Guan Ban Seng, which Thomas Scott, Guthrie’s partner, helped to finance.10 After Gan's death in 1899, the business continued for only a mere three years under his son, Gan Tiang Tok, before it rapidly declined along with his health.11
Social contributions
The 1892 Tan Tock Seng Hospital annual report records Gan’s generous gift of a freehold property at Rochor. By this time, Gan was already a prominent figure in the community,12 noted for his social work.13 Among his charitable accomplishments was the establishment of the Anglo-Chinese Free School in one of his Tanjong Pagar shophouses in 1885. The school moved into a new single-storey building at Telok Ayer Street in 1893,14 and was officially opened by then Governor Sir Clementi Smith.15 It was later named Gan Eng Seng School.16 Gan was far-sighted in his dream to build a school for the poor that taught both English and Chinese. The Anglo-Chinese Free School is reportedly the only school in the colony set up by the Chinese for the teaching of English in addition to their own language.17 In response to the shortage of schools and hospitals for the poor in Chinatown, he also donated money for free clinics and other public amenities.18
Family19
When Gan died in 1899, he left behind five wives, four of whom were in Singapore. The other was in Sam Tam, near Amoy, China.20 He had seven sons, five daughters and four grandsons.
Brother: Gan Eng Chye, a younger brother.
Sisters: Gan Gin Neo, Gan Guat Neo and Gan Guan Neo.
Wives21
Koh Chwee Neo – a Peranakan and his first wife, whom he married at 18 in 1859. After Gan’s death, she inherited his house on 87 Amoy Street, which was restored in 1992.22 She did not bear any living children.
Koh Eng Geok – his second wife, a Teochew who possibly inherited the “Gan Eng Seng” house at Upper Serangoon Road. She bore him two daughters – Gan Kwee Neo and Gan Hock Neo – and his first son, Gan Tiang Kwee, and was thus held in high esteem by Gan.
Choo Ah Teng – his third wife bore him a daughter, Gan Chin Neo.
Lim Neo Chik – his fourth wife.
Teo Bok Neo (China) – his fifth wife.
Not mentioned in his will was a wife who was reportedly a sister of Ho Yang Peng, who was from a wealthy family in Malacca. While this was attested to by his grandson, Gan Hock Chuan, there is no clear evidence of this, hence it is assumed that she either died or was estranged.23
Sons24
Gan Tiang Tok (adopted in 1859) was the eldest son, raised by Koh Chwee Neo.25 He headed Gan’s company after his death. He was on the Gan Eng Seng Free School Board of Trustees.
Gan Tiang Keng (adopted).
Gan Tiang Leong (adopted).
Gan Tiang Khay (adopted).
Gan Tiang Poh (adopted).
Gan Tiang Kwee, eldest son born to his second wife, Kho Eng Geok. He was a member of the Board of Trustees at the Gan Eng Seng School.
Gan Tiang Choon (adopted son of his wife in China).
Daughters26
Gan Chin Neo, born to his third wife.
Gan Ee Neo (adopted), raised by his fourth wife, Lim Neo Chik.
Gan Kwee Neo, born to his second wife.
Gan Hock Neo, born to his second wife.
Death
Gan Eng Seng died at his residence, of blood poisoning caused by a prick on the thumb from a piece of iron, after a short illness. He was 56.27
Author
Michael Mukunthan
References
1. Yen Ching-Hwang, Community and Politics: The Chinese in Colonial Singapore and Malaysia (Singapore: Times Academic Press, 1995), 211. (Call no. RSING 305.895105957 YEN)
2. Donald M. Dabbs, The History of Gan Eng Seng School (Singapore: D. M. Dabbs, 1994), 117. (Call no. RSING 372.95957 DAB)
3. Yen, Community and Politics, 182.
4. C. F. Yong, Chinese Leadership and Power in Colonial Singapore (Singapore: Times Academic Press, 1992), 4, 6–8. (Call no. RSING 959.5702 YON-[HIS])
5. Song Ong Siang, One Hundred Years' History of the Chinese in Singapore (Singapore: Oxford University Press, 1984), 274. (Call no. RSING 959.57 SON-[HIS])
6. Tan Ban Huat, “The Pioneers of Tanjong Pagar,” Straits Times, 5 April 1989, 5. (From NewspaperSG)
7. Victor R. Savage and Brenda S. A. Yeoh, Singapore Street Names: A Study of Toponymics (Singapore: Marshall Cavendish Editions, 2013), 133. (Call no. RSING 915.9570014 SAV-[TRA])
8. Dabbs, History of Gan Eng Seng, 110.
9. Tanjong Pagar Citizens' Consultative Committee, Tanjong Pagar: Singapore's Cradle of Development (Singapore: Tanjong Pagar Citizens' Consultative Committee, 1989), 135. (Call no. RSING 959.57 TAN-[HIS])
10. Dabbs, History of Gan Eng Seng, 110.
11. Dabbs, History of Gan Eng Seng, 120.
12. Song, One Hundred Years' History of the Chinese, 273.
13. Tanjong Pagar Citizens' Consultative Committee, Tanjong Pagar, 135.
14. Raoul le Blond, “Birthplace of Gan Eng Seng School Marked as a Historical Site,” Straits Times, 31 August 1997, 23. (From NewspaperSG)
15. Song, One Hundred Years' History of the Chinese, 273.
16. le Blond, Birthplace of Gan Eng Seng School.”
17. “School Gets Its Seventh Home,” Straits Times, 13 July 1989, 15. (From NewspaperSG)
18. le Blond, Birthplace of Gan Eng Seng School.”
19. Dabbs, History of Gan Eng Seng, 111, 117–20.
20. Dabbs, History of Gan Eng Seng, 119.
21. Dabbs, History of Gan Eng Seng, 111, 117–19.
22. Dabbs, History of Gan Eng Seng, 112.
23. Dabbs, History of Gan Eng Seng, 117.
24. Dabbs, History of Gan Eng Seng, 117, 118–20.
25. Dabbs, History of Gan Eng Seng, 117.
26. Dabbs, History of Gan Eng Seng, 118.
27. “Death of Mr Gan Eng Seng,” Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser (1884–1942), 9 September 1899, 2. (From NewspaperSG)
Further resource
Gan Eng Seng School, Onward: Magazine of Gan Eng Seng (Singapore: Gan Eng Seng School, 1968). (Call no. RCLOS 373.5957 G)
The information in this article is valid as at May 2019 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.
The information on this page and any images that appear here may be used for private research and study purposes only. They may not be copied, altered or amended in any way without first gaining the permission of the copyright holder.
Ling Siew May (b. 1937, Shanghai, China – d. 30 July 1999, Singapore) was the wife of the late former President Ong Teng Cheong, and principal partner at Ong & Ong Architects. She took over the company in 1993 and continued to work even after Ong was elected as president....
The landmark India-Singapore Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) is India’s first-ever such agreement and the first between Singapore and a South Asian country. It came into effect on 1 August 2005. The first review of the pact was concluded on 1 October 2007, while the second review has been ongoing...
Lee Chiaw Meng (???) (Dr) (b. 28 February 1937, Singapore–d. 23 May 2001, Singapore) served as the member of Parliament (MP) for Farrer Park (1968–80) and then for Tanah Merah (1980–84), minister for education (1972–75) and minister for science and technology (1975–76). ...
Established in 1985, the Association of Women for Action and Research (AWARE) is a Singapore non-governmental organisation (NGO) concerned with issues of women’s rights and gender quality. AWARE seeks to eliminate gender-based barriers through research, advocacy, education, training and support services....
Prudential was founded as The Prudential Investment, Loan and Assurance Association on 30 May 1848 in the premises of solicitors, Hanslip & Manning, at 10 Hatton Garden, London. After having established itself in the United Kingdom, Prudential sought to expand overseas by opening its first Eastern operations in India in...
Singapore hosted the 17th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting on 14 and 15 November 2009. The highlight was the presence at the meeting of US President Barack Obama in his first official visit to Asia. The meeting saw the United States promise to increase its engagement with the...
On 27 June 1964, 52 students were arrested in a massive pre-dawn crackdown at Nanyang University, on grounds of their involvement in "communist subversive activities". It was the last of a series of anti-communist actions conducted by the Federal government in Kuala Lumpur. These actions included Operation Coldstore in February...
Goh Chok Tong (b. 20 May 1941, Singapore–) was Singapore’s second prime minister (PM), serving in the office from 28 November 1990 to 11 August 2004. Goh first entered politics as a People’s Action Party (PAP) candidate in the 1976 general election. He was elected as Member of Parliament (MP)...
Sellapan Ramanathan (b. 3 July 1924, Singapore–22 August 2016, Singapore), commonly known as S. R. Nathan, served as the sixth president of Singapore from 1 September 1999 to 31 August 2011. He is Singapore’s longest-serving president. Prior to his presidency, Nathan held key positions in security, intelligence and foreign affairs,...
The Speak Mandarin Campaign was launched on 7 September 1979 by the then prime minister of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew. The campaign was initially started to simplify the language environment, improve communication among Chinese Singaporeans from the various dialect groups, and create a Mandarin-speaking environment in support of the national...