Tan Jiak Kim Explained

Tan Jiak Kim
Native Name Lang:zh-hant
Birth Date:1859 4, df=yes
Birth Place:Colony of Singapore
Death Place:Colony of Singapore
Spouse:
    Children:1 son and 1 daughter with Ang Geok Hoe and another daughter with an unknown mother

    Tan Jiak Kim CMG (29 April 1859 - 22 October 1917) was a Peranakan merchant, political activist and philanthropist from Singapore. He co-founded the Straits Chinese British Association along with Lim Boon Keng, Seah Liang Seah and Song Ong Siang.

    Early life

    Tan was born on 29 April 1859 as the eldest son of merchant and philanthropist Tan Beng Swee and his wife Seet Kenh Neo, a sibling of Tan Jiak Chuan, and the grandson of businessman and philanthropist Tan Kim Seng.[1] Besides Chinese, he could also speak Malay and English. Tan was introduced to the family business, Kim Seng & Co., in 1877, and became a partner with his uncle Tan Beng Gum after his father's death in 1888.[2]

    Legislative council

    Tan was elected the municipal commissioner of the central ward in 1888, generally representing the Chinese community in Singapore along with Seah Liang Seah, and resigned on 15 December 1893.[3] [4] He had resigned as his term had expired and he wished to retire from the legislative council as an unofficial member.[5] By then, he had already built himself a reputation as a philanthropist, and was popular in his position.[6] [7] However, he was the only person to be nominated as municipal commissioner in April 1894, after being nominated by Thomas Shelford and Lee Cheng Yan, and thus rejoined the legislative council as an unofficial member.[8] In 1901, he and his son went on a visit to Europe.[9] [10] Tan represented the colony at the coronation celebrations of 1911 in London along with Hugh Fort.[11]

    On 3 April 1912, Tan was awarded the Order of St Michael and St George for his assistance to the legislative council, and for his philanthropy.[12] After receiving the award, he stated that he wished that more Asians would be awarded with the award.[13] [14]

    Resignation from the legislative council

    Tan first announced his plans to resign from the legislative council in May 1915, as his health had begun to deteriorate.[15] [16] Tan retired from his position as an unofficial member of the legislative council in March 1916.[17] Despite his health, there were initially hopes of him recovering and returning to the legislative council.[18] Following his resignation, Lee Choon Guan proposed for a portrait of Tan to be commissioned and hung in the Victoria Memorial Hall.[19] The proposal was supported by Lim Boon Keng, and a fundraiser for Tan's portrait was soon held, with $20 being the maximum someone could donate.[20] [21]

    Straits Chinese British Association

    Tan, Seah Liang Seah, Lim Boon Keng and Song Ong Siang founded the Straits Chinese British Association on 17 August 1900, which was originally headed by Lim. The organisation favoured the British, and was popular with the government of Singapore, helping represent the Peranakan community in Singapore. In 1907, Lim decided to resign from his position as head of the association. He initially asked for Tan to take his place, but Tan declined the offer.[22]

    Philanthropy

    In 1896, Tan introduced the "Tan Jiak Kim Scholarship" in Raffles Institution, which any male student could compete for.[23] This occurred while he was a trustee of the institution's board. In 1895, following the collapse of a building, Tan donated money to victims of the collapse.[24] [25] On 14 October 1904, Tan began a fundraiser with a goal of $71,000 to fund the construction of a new school, the King Edward VII College of Medicine.[26] [27] By November 1904, he had managed to raise $37,000 for the college.[28] By 1905, $87,000 had been raised, $12,000 which had been donated by Tan.[29] Another $15,000 of the raised funds came from rubber tycoon Tan Chay Yan.[30] Tan and Seah managed to raise a further $120,000 to expand the school, and provided it with a $1,500 scholarship. Tan donated $37,000 to the Prince of Wales Relief Fund during World War I to aid the British in buying battle planes.

    Personal life

    Tan lived along River Valley Road in the Panglima Prang bungalow. In 1878, Tan married Ang Geok Hoe. Both of them had 2 children, a son, Tan Soo Bin,[31] and a daughter, Tan Suat Neo.[32] [33] Ang died during childbirth in 1898. Tan's daughter died on 7 April 1909 from malaria, four years after her marriage.[34]

    Tan later remarried to Ang's sister, Ang Geok Hean. In 1911, Ang began suffering from uremia and pneumonia.[35] Despite this, she decided to accompany Tan to London to represent the colony, staying at the Hilton London Metropole.[36] [37] However, she died on 4 August due to a heart failure and was buried in London.[38] Her death was announced on 11 August.[39] [40]

    Following this, Tan remarried to the youngest daughter of the Ang family, Ang Geok Lan. Geok Lan died on 1 October 1925.[41] [42]

    Death

    Tan died on 22 October 1917 from a heart failure caused by diabetes.[43] [44] His funeral was held on 28 October.[45] [46] After the funeral, Tan was buried in his family's private cemetery along Alexandra Road in Bukit Merah.[47]

    Legacy

    Jiak Kim Street and Jiak Kim Bridge were named after Tan after his death.[48] [49]

    In 2012, Tan's fountain, which had been traded away to Penang, Malaysia after his death, was returned to Singapore.[50] [51]

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: Tan Jiak Kim. Tay. Charmaine. Singapore Infopedia. National Library Board. 19 April 2022.
    2. Book: Chew, Phyllis. 15 June 2013. Tan Jiak Kim (1859-1917). Singapore. National University of Singapore.
    3. News: . 13 July 1987. Straits Chinese and Public Life. The Straits Budget. Singapore. 20 April 2022.
    4. News: . 7 November 1993. Resignation of Mr. Tan Jiak Kim. Straits Times Weekly Issue. Singapore. 19 April 2022.
    5. News: . 7 November 1993. The Resignation of Mr. Tan Jiak Kim.. Straits Times Weekly Issue. Singapore. 19 April 2022.
    6. News: . 22 December 1892. The Resignation of Mr. Tan Jiak Kim.. Daily Advertiser. Singapore. 19 April 2022.
    7. News: . 7 November 1892. Resignation of the Hon'ble Tan Jiak Kim.. Daily Advertiser. Singapore. 19 April 2022.
    8. News: . 27 April 1894. Central Ward Election. Daily Advertiser. Singapore. 19 April 2022.
    9. News: . 12 September 1901. Mr. Tan Jiak Kim on Tour. The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser (Weekly). Singapore. 19 April 2022.
    10. News: . 14 September 1901. Mr. Tan Jiak Kim. The Straits Budget. Singapore. 19 April 2022.
    11. News: . 4 January 1912. The New Year's Honours.. The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser (Weekly). Singapore. 19 April 2022.
    12. News: . 4 April 1912. Mr. Jiak Kim Honoured. The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser (Weekly). Singapore. 19 April 2022.
    13. News: . 4 April 1912. Tan Jiak Kim, C. M. G.. Straits Echo. Singapore. 19 April 2022.
    14. News: . 6 April 1909. Hon.Jiak Kim Honoured. Straits Echo. Singapore. 19 April 2022.
    15. News: . 29 May 1915. The Hon. Tan Jiak Kim, C.M.G.. The Straits Times. Singapore. 19 April 2022.
    16. News: . 1 June 1915. Hon'ble Mr. Tan Jiak Kim, C.M.G.. The Malaya Tribune. Singapore. 19 April 2022.
    17. News: . 30 March 1916. Mr. Tan Jiak Kim, C.M.G.. The Straits Budget. Singapore. 19 April 2022.
    18. News: . 3 June 1915. The Hon. Tan Jiak Kim, C.M.G.. The Straits Budget. Singapore. 20 April 2022.
    19. News: . 12 April 1916. Honour to Whom Honour is Due. Malaya Tribune. Singapore. 20 April 2022.
    20. News: . 13 June 1916. Tan Jiak Kim Portrait Fund. Straits Echo. Singapore. 20 April 2022.
    21. News: . 16 June 1916. Tan Jiak Kim Portrait Fund.. The Straits Budget. Singapore. 20 April 2022.
    22. News: . 31 January 1907. Wednesday, Jan. 30, 1907. Straits Chinese British Association. The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser (Weekly). Singapore. 19 April 2022.
    23. News: . 8 December 1896. A scholarship. The Straits Budget. Singapore. 19 April 2022.
    24. News: . 15 December 1895. The Mid-day Herald. Singapore, Thursday Dec. 5, 1895 Mr. Tan Jiak Kim.. The Mid-day Herald. Singapore. 19 April 2022.
    25. News: . 29 October 1895. Mr. Tan Jiak Kim.. The Mid-day Herald. Singapore. 19 April 2022.
    26. News: . 15 October 1904. Straits Medical College. Straits Echo. Singapore. 19 April 2022.
    27. News: . 14 October 1904. Straits Medical College. Straits Echo. Singapore. 19 April 2022.
    28. News: . 10 November 1904. Medical College. The Straits Budget. Singapore. 19 April 2022.
    29. Book: Yong, Ching Fatt. 1992. Chinese leadership and power in colonial Singapore. Singapore. Times Academic Press. 9812100288.
    30. Web site: Tan Teck Guan Building. . Roots. National Heritage Board. 20 April 2022.
    31. Web site: MR TAN SOO BIN. . 2022-04-21 . eresources.nlb.gov.sg . en-SG.
    32. News: . 11 November 1898. A Costly Coffin. The Straits Budget. Singapore. 19 April 2022.
    33. News: . 17 November 1898. A Lady's Funeral. The Straits Budget. Singapore. 19 April 2022.
    34. Web site: Obituary. . 2022-04-21 . eresources.nlb.gov.sg . en-SG.
    35. News: . 17 August 1911. Death of Mrs. Tan Jiak Kim.. The Straits Budget. Singapore. 19 April 2022.
    36. News: . 9 September 1911. Mrs. Tan Jiak Kim. The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser. Singapore. 19 April 2022.
    37. News: . 29 June 1911. Buckingham Palace Levee. The Straits Budget. Singapore. 19 April 2022.
    38. News: . 7 September 1911. Channel Swim. Straits Echo. Singapore. 19 April 2022.
    39. News: . 12 August 1911. Death of Mrs. Tan Jiak Kim. The Straits Times. Singapore. 19 April 2022.
    40. News: . 14 August 1911. Death of Mrs. Tan Jiak Kim. The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser. Singapore. 19 April 2022.
    41. News: . 2 October 1925 . Death of Mrs. Tan Jiak Kim . The Straits Budget . Singapore . 20 April 2022.
    42. News: . 1 October 1925 . Death of Mrs. Tan Jiak Kim . . Singapore . 20 April 2022.
    43. News: . 26 October 1917. Death of Mr. Tan Jiak Kim, C.M.G. A Long Career of Public Service. The Straits Budget. Singapore. 20 April 2022.
    44. News: . 22 October 1917. Death of Mr. Tan Jiak Kim. Straits Echo. Singapore. 20 April 2022.
    45. News: . 29 October 1917. The Late Mr. Tan Jiak Kim. The Straits Times. Singapore. 20 April 2022.
    46. News: . 2 November 1917. The Late Mr. Tan Jiak Kim Large Attendance at the Funeral Yesterday. The Straits Budget. Singapore. 20 April 2022.
    47. News: . 14 December 2015. Philanthropist’s ‘missing’ grave found. The Straits Times. Singapore.
    48. News: . 4 February 2001. It is my grandfather’s road... ...but I hardly think about it. The New Paper. Singapore.
    49. News: Chandy. Gloria. 27 August 1979. 3 generations of generosity. New Nation. Singapore. 21 April 2022.
    50. News: Ho. Kim. 2 September 2012. How Tan Jiak Kim's fountain came home. The Straits Times. Singapore.
    51. News: 9 September 2012. Sharing art with all. The Straits Times. Singapore.

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