Gan Eng Seng

Gan Eng Seng alias Yen Hsi K'un (b. 1844, Malacca - d. 9 September 1899, Singapore) Chinese ethnic leader, labour contractor and a landed proprietor of early Singapore who contributed considerably to charities like hospitals and schools. He began the Gan Eng Seng Free School in 1885 in his shophouses along Telok Ayer Street.

Early Life
Born into a poor Hokkien family in Malacca, Gan probably had a rudimentary education that allowed him to read and write English and keep accounts. He came to Singapore at 16 upon his father's death and had his humble beginnings at a nutmeg plantation. Joining Guthrie and Company in 1861 at the age of 17, he rose through the ranks to become chief storekeeper and in 1874, the company's chief compradore, a position he held for 25 years. Gan concurrently ran various business ventures with the help of his sons, and his golden goose proved to be the supply of Chinese labour and transport for the Tanjong Pagar Dock Company. Guthrie partner and a father of the Tanjong Pagar Docks, Thomas Scott, helped Gan secure a better footing in his business at the docks by financing the budding company under the name of Chop Guan Ban Seng. Upon Gan's death, the business continued only a mere 3 years under his son Gan Tiang Tok before it rapidly declined along with his health.

Social Contributions
Among his charitable accomplishments was the establishment of the Anglo-Chinese Free School in some shop houses in Telok Ayer Steet in 1885, and which was later tansfered into a new building in 1893, officially opened by the Governor Sir Clementi Smith. This school was later named Gan Eng Seng School after its founder.

Family
When Gan died in 1899, he left behind 5 wives, 4 of whom were in Singapore and the other in Sam Tam, near Amoy, China. He also had 7 sons (5 adopted and 2 his own), 5 daughters and 4 grandsons.

Brother: Gan Eng Chye, younger brother who died early.
Sisters: Gan Gin Neo; Gan Guat Neo; Gan Guan Neo.

Wives
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. She did not bear any living children.
Koh Eng Geok, his second wife, a Teochew who inherited possibly the "Gan Eng Seng" house at Upper Serangoon Road. Bore him two daughters - Gan Kwee Neo and Gan Hock Neo. She also bore him his first son and was thus held in high esteem by Gan Eng Seng.
Choo Ah Teng, his third wife bore him a daughter, Gan Chin Neo.
Lim Neo Chik.
Teo Bok Neo (China), sister of Ho Yang Peng, a wealthy family in Malacca. This is attested to by his grandson, Gan Hock Chuan but there is no clear evidence that he had such a wife.

Sons
Gan Tiang Tok (adopted), eldest adopted son raised by Koh Chwee Neo. He headed Eng Seng's company after his father's death.
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, second son, born to his wife in China.

Daughters 
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.



Author
Michael Mukunthan



References
Dabbs, D. M. (1994). The history of Gan Eng Seng School (pp. 109-120). Singapore: D. M. Dabbs.
(Call no.: RSING 372.95957 DAB) 

Song, O. S. (1984). One hundred years' history of the Chinese in Singapore (pp.273.274). Singapore: Oxford University Press.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 SON)

Turnbull, C. M. (1989). A history of Singapore: 1819-1988 (p.100). Singapore: Oxford University Press.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 TUR) 


Further Readings
The Gan Eng Seng Secondary School. [1968-]. Singapore: The School.
(Call no.: RCLOS 373.5957 G)

Tanjong Pagar: Singapore's cradle of development (p. 135). (1989). Singapore: Tanjong Pagar Citizens' Consultative Committee.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 TAN) 

Yen, C. H. (1995). Community and politics: The Chinese in colonial Singapore and Malaysia (p. 211). Singapore: Times Academic Press.
(Call no.: RSING 305.895105957 YEN)

Yong, C. F. (1992). Chinese leadership and power in colonial Singapore (pp. 4, 6-7, 12). Singapore: Times Academic Press.
(CAll no.: RSING 959.5702 YON) 
School gets its seventh home: Gan Eng Seng's pioneering spirit lives on. (1989, July 13) . The Straits Times, p. 16.



The information in this article is valid as at 1999 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.

Subject
Personalities>>Biographies>>Community Leaders
Philanthropists--Singapore
Schools--Singapore
Business, finance and industry>>Business organization>>Business enterprises



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