Firstly, I learnt that immigrants in 19th century Singapore lived a hard life. The ones who persevered succeeded while those who indulge in drinking and opium smoking continued living miserably. Mr Tan Tock Seng is definitely a good example of the ones who persevered. He saved every cent he earned and eventually became wealthy.
In my opinion, I feel that the ability to endure or endurance is the key to success. If someone is able to endure the hard work, most likely he or she will be able to succeed.
I felt that this activity was very useful as I managed to learn more about Mr Tan Tock Seng. I hope that there will be more of these activities as it broadens my knowledge.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Suggestion for a monument of Tan Tock Seng
Mr Tan was an immigrant who worked hard and finally amassed wealth. However, he did not stop there. He gave liberally to charity and even built the Chinese Pauper's Hospital. His contributions have been recognised but I feel that he deserves a little more.
I would like to suggest that we can have a statue of Mr Tan Tock Seng. The museum can be decorated with flowers and pictures of him when he was young.
This monument can have a short description of Mr Tan Tock Seng.
Short Description:
Mr Tan Tock Seng came to Singapore to seek his fortune. He scrimped and saved every cent he earned. After saving enough money, he opened a shop. Eventually, he became one of the richest merchants in Singapore. However, that was not the end. Mr Tan Tock Seng donated generously and even built a hospital for the poor. He was recognised for his contributions.
I would like to suggest that we can have a statue of Mr Tan Tock Seng. The museum can be decorated with flowers and pictures of him when he was young.
This monument can have a short description of Mr Tan Tock Seng.
Short Description:
Mr Tan Tock Seng came to Singapore to seek his fortune. He scrimped and saved every cent he earned. After saving enough money, he opened a shop. Eventually, he became one of the richest merchants in Singapore. However, that was not the end. Mr Tan Tock Seng donated generously and even built a hospital for the poor. He was recognised for his contributions.
How his contributions made an impact on Singapore
Mr Tan's contributions included donating generously to charity, providing burial costs for the Chinese poor and donation of Spanish $7,000 to the building of the Chinese Pauper's Hospital.
Let me elaborate on the donation of Spanish $7,000 to the Chinese Pauper's Hospital. The health conditions in the 19th century was deplorable with the poor and sick given little outlet to seek medical treatment. With so many ill people, traders might not intend to come and trade at Singapore. This will affect Singapore's growth as traders think that Singapore was a country with a disease outbreak causing them to trade somewhere else.
However, Mr Tan Tock Seng, donated money to build the Chinese Pauper's Hospital. The purpose was to allow the poor and ill to seek proper treatment at this hospital. The sick got proper treatment and was healthy again. Therefore, the trades increased as traders traded at Singapore without worries.
Source:
http://infopedia.nl.sg/articles/SIP_70_2004-12-24.html
http://infopedia.nl.sg/articles/SIP_118_2005-01-22.html
Let me elaborate on the donation of Spanish $7,000 to the Chinese Pauper's Hospital. The health conditions in the 19th century was deplorable with the poor and sick given little outlet to seek medical treatment. With so many ill people, traders might not intend to come and trade at Singapore. This will affect Singapore's growth as traders think that Singapore was a country with a disease outbreak causing them to trade somewhere else.
However, Mr Tan Tock Seng, donated money to build the Chinese Pauper's Hospital. The purpose was to allow the poor and ill to seek proper treatment at this hospital. The sick got proper treatment and was healthy again. Therefore, the trades increased as traders traded at Singapore without worries.
Source:
http://infopedia.nl.sg/articles/SIP_70_2004-12-24.html
http://infopedia.nl.sg/articles/SIP_118_2005-01-22.html
Tan Tock Seng
Mr Tan left Malacca and came to Singapore in 1819 at the age of 21. He started as a vegetable seller, bringing produce from the countryside to sell in the city. He was hardworking and scrimped on every cent he made. Mr Tan finally opened a shop along the riverside at Boat Quay in 1827 after saving enough money.
Mr Tan eventually became a rich businessman through a joint business in land speculation with J. H. Whitehead of Shaw, Whitehead & Co. His landed properties included 50 acres of land where the railway station at Tanjong Pagar is located, and the plot of land from the Padang to High Street and Tank Road. He also owned a block of shop houses at Ellenborough Building and a 14-acre fruit plantation opposite the St Andrew's Mission Hospital.
However, that did not end. After becoming wealthy, Tan contributed generously to charity and became a renowned philanthropist amongst the Chinese. He was known to provide burial costs for the Chinese poor. His most famous gesture was the donation of Spanish $7,000 to the building of the Chinese Pauper's Hospital in 1844 at Pearl's Hill. He was also a founder of the Thian Hock Keng Temple at Telok Ayer Street, Singapore's oldest temple, which had been the centre of worship for the Fujian Chinese.
Sadly, Mr Tan died at age 52. His grave lies along the grassy slope next to Jubilee Church, 256 Outram Road, Singapore.
Source:
http://infopedia.nl.sg/articles/SIP_118_2005-01-22.html
Mr Tan eventually became a rich businessman through a joint business in land speculation with J. H. Whitehead of Shaw, Whitehead & Co. His landed properties included 50 acres of land where the railway station at Tanjong Pagar is located, and the plot of land from the Padang to High Street and Tank Road. He also owned a block of shop houses at Ellenborough Building and a 14-acre fruit plantation opposite the St Andrew's Mission Hospital.
However, that did not end. After becoming wealthy, Tan contributed generously to charity and became a renowned philanthropist amongst the Chinese. He was known to provide burial costs for the Chinese poor. His most famous gesture was the donation of Spanish $7,000 to the building of the Chinese Pauper's Hospital in 1844 at Pearl's Hill. He was also a founder of the Thian Hock Keng Temple at Telok Ayer Street, Singapore's oldest temple, which had been the centre of worship for the Fujian Chinese.
Sadly, Mr Tan died at age 52. His grave lies along the grassy slope next to Jubilee Church, 256 Outram Road, Singapore.
Source:
http://infopedia.nl.sg/articles/SIP_118_2005-01-22.html
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