Tan Kim Ching
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Kapitan Tan Kim Ching, J.P., (1829 - Feb 1892)
Image:Http://www.a2o.com.sg/a2o/public/html/online exhibit/odetoFriendship/html/King V/images/12.jpg
Tan Kim Ching the eldest of the three sons of Tan Tock Seng, the founder and financier of Tan Tock Seng Hospital (1844), was consul for Japan, Thailand and Russia, was a member of the Royal Court of Siam, was one of Singapore’s leading Chinese merchants and was one of its richest men at that time. He was also the first Asian member of the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society.
[edit] His Equally Famous Father
Tan Tock Seng was born in 1798 in Malacca and later migrated to Singapore. He began as a vegetable, fruit and fowlseller and later opened a shop and went into business with Whitehead and Company. Governor Butterworth made Tan Tock Seng a Justice of the Peace; he was the first Asian to be given this honour. He was a philanthropist who contributed to numerous charities. He died in 1850 at the age of 52 years leaving behind his widow, three sons and three daughters.
[edit] Businessman
In his day, Tan Kim Ching was one of Singapore’s leading Chinese merchants, one of the richest men in Singapore and had sizeable business interests in Singapore, Siam, Vietnam and Malaya. His business boomed with rice mills he owned in Bangkok and Saigon.
Upon the death of his father, the name of the firm "Tan Tock Seng" - mainly involved in the rice business - was changed to "Tan Kim Ching". The business was carried on at "River-Side" (now known as Boat Quay) from 1851 to 1859 by Tan Kim Ching as sole owner. In 1860, having admitted his brother Tan Swee Lim as a partner, the firm was known as "Tan Kim Ching & Brother", chop Chin Seng Ho, but a few months later Tan Swee Lim left the firm. The business which finally became known as "Kim Ching & Co." chop Chin Seng attained considerable success, and he bought rice mills at Saigon, Siam and elsewhere which supplied him with his milled rice. In 1888, the company opened a branch in Hong Kong.
Apart from the rice business he had mining concessions in Patani, whose workers he could supply with his own rice. He was one of the earliest merchants to import silk from China. He also involved himself in the shipping business.
In 1863, he came up with $120,000 to found and set up the Tanjong Pagar Dock Company (the forerunner of todays Port of Singapore Authority), purchased two steamships and promoted the Tanjong Pagar Dock Co.
[edit] Man of the People in Singapore
A man of influence in Singapore, Hokkien marriages were often solemnized in his office and the marriage certificates authenticated with the company rubber stamp.
In 1860 the Hokkien Huay Kuan was established in the premises of the Hock Keng Temple at Telok Ayer Street and Tan Kim Ching was installed as its first leader, a position he held for 30 years. Hew was especially noted for his establishment of a marriage registry for the Hokkiens.
In 1864, he was elected to the Grand Jury as one of the only 5 Chinese members on the jury.
In 1865 he was made a Justice of the Peace by the British Straits Setftlements government.
In 1888, he was appointed to the Municipal Council.
He was also made a Kapitan China, responsible for the conduct and administration of the Chinese population in Singapore.
He was fluent in Malay and was arguably the most powerful Chinese leader in the region in the 19th century.
[edit] Tan Kim Ching, Anna and The King of Siam
This illustrious scion of the Tan family played a key role in strengthening ties between Singapore and Siam. Tan Kim Ching had a very close relationship with the royal family of Siam and often served as their go-between. In recognising the importance of his role, he was appointed ‘the first Siamese Consul in Singapore’ by King Mongkut in 1863 and in 1885, King Chulalongkorn elevated his title to that of Consul-General. He was bestowed the Royal Title Phraya Astongt Disrarak Siamprajanukulkij. He was also Special Commissioner for Siam in the Straits Settlements.
He had great influence on the Chinese outside the Colony, especially in the northern Malay States bordering Siam, viz. Kelantan and Patani (originally a Malay state but eventually annexed in 1906 as part of the Kingdom of Siam). Exercising this influence, during the time of Sir Andrew Clarke, Tan Kim Ching was instrumental in settling a difficulty, that arose between the Siamese and Perak governments.
When King Mongkut of Siam also known as King Rama IV wanted to find someone who would help educate the members of his immediate family without attempting to convert them through use of Christian indoctrination it was to his Consul in Singapore, Tan Kim Ching, that he turned, pointing out "It is not pleasant to us if the school mistress much morely endeavour to convert the scholars to Christianity than teaching language literature etc. like the American missionaries here." In response, Tan Kim Ching recommend a suitable teacher in Singapore at that time who happened to be Anna Harriet Leonowens, a young widow, looking for work to support herself and two children. The story of the schoolteacher and the King of Siam has been made popular through the films "The King & I" (Yul Brynner and Deborah Kerr) and "Anna And The King (Chow, Yun Fatt and Jodie Foster).
When the King & Queen of Slam landed in Singapore in 1890 they stayed at Tan Kim Ching's house, "Siam house", in North Bridge Road. It was reported that The King, who was expected to arrive in Singapore at Tanjong Pagar Wharf onboard the royal vessel “Ubon Burratit” on 30 May 1890, had landed at Johnston’s Pier instead. Due to the late arrival, only Tan Kim Ching was at the Pier to receive him.
[edit] Philantrophy
Tan Kim Ching And The Tan Tock Seng Hospital
On July 25, 1844, the foundation stone of the Tan Tock Seng Hospital was laid on Pearl's Hill. The stone was laid but the construction took 3 years. After that the hospital stayed empty for another 2 years because of insufficient funding. In 1852, in order to ease overcrowding at the hospital founded by his father Tan Tock Seng, Tan Kim Ching offered timely assistance - to bear the cost of additions to the building which was approximately two thousand dollars ($2,000). His generous gesture led to many other merchants increasing monthly subscriptions to Tan Tock Seng Hospital.
Image:Http://www.crescent.edu.sg/ipw/2000/sec1/13g10-ttkhospital/Website/marbletablet.JPG
By 1854 the additions were completed. An inscription engraved in stone at the hospital gate acknowledges the donation of $3,000 by Tan Kim Ching. After all of that it was decided that the Tan Tock Seng Hospital had to move as the government wanted to build a new building. Tan Kim Ching agreed to the move, on condition that the rebuilt hospital should not cost less than the original one. He also requested for a female ward, which his mother paid for in 1858 to perpetuate the memory of Tan Tock Seng. In 1858, two years after the government's decision to acquire Pearl's Hill, construction work began and Tan Kim Ching donated an additional $3,340.
Image:Http://www.crescent.edu.sg/ipw/2000/sec1/13g10-ttkhospital/Website/marbletablet2.JPG
Tan Kim Ching And The Tan Si Chong Su
Tah Kim Ching together with Tan Swee Beng donated funds to build an ancestral temple to serve the needs of the Tan Clan (people bearing the Tan surname) and in 1876 the Tan Si Chong Su was built.
Others
In 1849, when the Chinese school Chung Wen Ge was built, he donated $100.
In 1854, he donated $150 towards the constuction of the Chui Eng School.
[edit] Royal Asiatic Society
In March 1878 the The Straits Asiatic Society (formed on November 4th 1877) was renamed the The Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society and Tan Kim Ching was one of its founding members.
[edit] Klang Consessionaire
In 1866 Tan Kim Ching, along with W. H. Read (Chairman of the Straits Chamber of Commerce), secured the lease for Klang from Raja Abdullah bin Raja Jaafar, the administrator of Klang. Among the benefits of this lease arrangement was being able to collect taxes. Their attempts to collect taxes from Raja Mahdi whose father Raja Sulaiman was Klang's Headman, however, sparked off a civil war that became known as The Klang War or The Selangor Civil War.
[edit] The Larut Wars And The Pangkor Engagement
Tan Kim Ching was a member of the Ghee Hin secret society and a supporter of Raja Muda Abdullah of Perak and the Ghee Hin in Larut. It was Tan Kim Ching who had encouraged Abdullah to write seeking the involvement of the British which resulted in Sir Andrew Clarke gathering the main Chinese leaders and some Malays – including Abdullah – at Pulau Pangkor where the ‘Pangkor Engagement’ was formulated and signed, recognising Abdullah as Sultan, and getting the Chinese to agree to settle their differences in Larut under British arbitration.
[edit] Singapore Syndicates
During the tenure of Chiu Sin Yong's Revenue Farming syndicate in Singapore, backed by Khoo Thean Poh, Tan Kim Ching testified against Cheang Hong Lim and his group who had mobilized all of their allies and affiliates and organized a conspiracy to scuttle Chiu's farming syndicate. Tan Kim Cheng's testimony was a godsend for Chiu and Khoo.
[edit] Commendations
Commander of the Third Class of the Order of the Rising Sun of Japan.
Special letter of thanks from the Governor of the Straits Settlements, Sir Andrew Clarke, for his role in settling a difficulty that arose between the Siamese and Perak governments.
Special letter and honour from China for his contribution to the Famine Fund in 1890.
[edit] His Children
He had the following children through his marriage to Chua Yee Ren: i. Tan Soon Toh (1853-1892) ii. Tan Cheng Gay Neo (-1892) iii. TAN Unknown Female (1892-) iv. Tan Siew Kong (-1892) v. Tan Hay Leng (1892-1943) vi. Tan Boon Nin (-1892) vii. Tan Kah Chiat (-1892) viii. Tan Eng Say aka. Chit Sia (1878-1941) ix. Tan Keck Geang (-1886) x. Tan Choo Neo (1892-)
His daughter, Tan Cheng Gay Neo, who had been taught Chinese and also a little English, was the first among those appointed trustees of his estate to take out probate of his will- one of the rare instances of a Chinese lady being appointed and assuming the duties of executrix of the will of a Chinese testator.
Five of his grandsons, Tan Boo Liat, Tan Cheow Pin, Tan Kwee Liang, Tan Kwee Swee and Tan Kwee Wah (all sons of the late Tan Soon Toh) were very well-known members of the Chinese community.
[edit] Final Years
Towards the end of his life a prosecution was instituted against him for keeping slaves, but he was discharged. He died in February 1892 and his remains were interred at his private burial ground at the thirteenth mile on the Changi Road.
At his death, he was the owner of the steamers Siam and Singapore, and of a large number of concessions, including some at Mount Ophir, Kampong Rusa, Patani and various others, which had not been prospected.
[edit] Posthumous Reference
The setting up of the Tao Nan School, established on 18 November 1906, financed by the Hokkien Huay Kuan (which was led by Tan Kim Ching before he died), was initiated by Tan Boo Liat, the son of Tan Kim Ching. Tan Kim Ching's residence at Siam House served as temporary grounds for the school which moved to its own premises in Armenian Street and later Marine Parade (1982).
Although he was buried in Changi, his grave was transferred to Bukit Brown in 1940.
[edit] Notes/References
1) An Ode To Friendship -- Celebrating Thailand-Singapore Relations, Mr Wong Wee Hon, Head (Archives Reference Room),National Archives of Singapore
2) Singapore Then & Now, Ray Tyers, University Education Press, 1976
3) The London Illustrated News, 6 March 1858
4) The Free Press, 31 May 1890
5) The Sunday Times, 30 November 1969
6) From Competition to Constraint: The International Rice Trade in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, A. J. H. Latham, University of Wales, Swansea
7) Tao Nan School by Mr Dhoraisingam S. Samuel
8) Lim Siew Yeen & Renuka M, National Library Board, Singapore, 2002
9) The King of Siam's Eclipse: The Total Solar Eclipse of August 18th, 1868 by Heather Hobden
10) Cavenagh Private Letterbooks Volume XI Oct 1865 To Oct 1868 and Volume VII 10th Jul 1863 To 27th Dec 1863, University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
11) The English Governess at the Siamese Court -- Being Recollections of Six Years in the Royal Palace at Bangkok by Anna Hariette Leonowens, 26th July 1870
12) Ancestors of Claudine Chionh, Claudine Chionh, 2005
13) Lawrence Tan's Family Tree, Lawrence Tan
14) Koh Saeng Tat - The Opium King by Carl A Trocki
15) Lecture 3.2 The underside of Development, Topic 3: Singapore's Economic Development, Associate Professor Karl Hack, Humanities and Social Studies Education Academic Group, National Institute of Education
16) Class Structure and Social Mobility in the Chinese Community in Singapore and Malaya 1800-1911 Yen Ching-Hwang Modern Asian Studies, Vol. 21, No. 3 (1987), pp. 417-445
17) Chinese Capitalism and the British Empire By Carl A. Trocki -- A paper presented to the International Association of Historians of Asia, Conference, Taiwan, Taipei, 6-10 December 2004
18) The Siamese Royal Agent in Singapore: The Activities of Tan Kim Ching by Miyamata, Toshiyuki., Southeast Asia: History & Culture, Number 31, 30 May 2002
19) "Rescuing Businesses through Transnationalism: Embedded Chinese Enterprise and Nationalist Activities in Singapore in the 1930s Great Depression" by Kuo, Huei-Ying, Enterprise & Society - Volume 7, Number 1, March 2006, pp. 98-127
20) The rice trade between Siam and Singapore in the late nineteenth century : Tan Kim Ching and Siam 'Garden Rice' by Sooyoon Lee
(Researched by Jeffery Seow)
