Lim Nee Soon
| Lim Nee Soon (林義順) | |
|---|---|
| Born |
November 12, 1879 Singapore |
| Died |
March 20, 1936 (aged 56) Shanghai, China |
| Resting place | Nanjing, near Sun Yat Sen Mausoleum |
| Alma mater | Anglo Chinese School |
| Occupation | Merchant |
| Spouse(s) | Wi Pek Hay |
| Children |
Sons: Lim Chong Kuo Lim Chong Pang Lim Chong Min Daughters: Lim Chek Geck (Mrs Oei Tjong Tiong) Lim Kheng Geck (Mrs See Bong Him) Mrs Tan Tuck Hoe (maiden name unknown) Lim Mui Gek Lim Lek Gek Lim Seok Gek |
| Parent(s) |
Father: Lim Peng Nguan Mother: Teo Choon Lian |
| Relatives |
Maternal Grandfather:Teo Lee Maternal Uncle: Teo Eng Hock |
Lim Nee Soon (Chinese: 林義順; pinyin: Lín Yìshùn; born November 12, 1879 - died March 20, 1936) was a Singaporean merchant who promoted social and community matters, and was a respected community leader in Singapore. Lim was of Chinese Peranakan descent, with ancestry from Chenghai District, Shantou in Guangdong, China.
He was a rubber magnate and was nicknamed the "pineapple king" for being the leading pineapple planter in the region. He was also a banker, contractor and general commission agent. He was the first general manager of the Bukit Sembawang Rubber Company Limited, formed in 1908. Nee Soon and Company was formed in 1911.
As a Chinese Peranakan (Baba), he was affectionately known as Bah Soon Pah. Bah Soon Pah Road was named after him.
Early life
Nee Soon was educated in English at the St. Joseph's Institution, and then later, at the Anglo Chinese School.
Career
Nee Soon was one of the pioneers that opened up Sembawang. Nee Soon served on the Rural Board from 1913 to 1921 and was also appointed a Justice of Peace. In the field of education, he was one of the founders of The Chinese High School and also a member of the Raffles College Committee. He was the President of the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce for two periods, from 1921-1922, and 1925-1926.
Later life
Nee Soon was a leading member of the Teochew clan association Teochew Poit Ip Huay Kuan, and was a close friend of Dr Sun Yat Sen.
He died on the way home from a trip to China and his embalmed body was scheduled to be brought back to Singapore. But the Chinese government requested to give him a State burial and so he was buried in Nanjing,[1] near the mausoleum of his close friend Dr Sun Yat Sen.
Family
Nee Soon married Ms. Wi Pek Hay and had 3 sons and 6 daughters.
Legacy
Nee Soon Road was officially named in 1950 by the Rural Board to facilitate postal services. Nee Soon also owned a large plot of land in the area and several roads in this area are named after his business concerns and family members.
The residential town of Yishun in the northern part of Singapore, is also named after him. Although originally named Nee Soon, the name was subsequently romanized to its current appellation, to reflect the Singapore government's move to use proper Standard Chinese over the more popular and unrecognized Chinese dialects prominent amongst local dialect groups.
References
- ↑ "Lim Nee Soon To Be Buried in Nanking". The Sunday Times (Singapore). 12 April 1936. p. 1.
Secondary sources
- Lim, How Seng; Lim, Guan Hock, eds. (1987). A Pictorial history of Nee Soon Community. Singapore: The grassroots organisations of Nee Soon Constituency : National Archives : Oral History Department. p. 43.
- Wakin, Eric (1997). Asian Independence Leaders. Global profiles. New York: Facts on file. pp. 13–16. ISBN 0-8160-3320-X.
- Cornelius-Takahama, Vernon (25 May 2001). "Lim Nee Soon". Singapore Infopedia. Singapore: The National Library of Singapore. Retrieved 14 July 2009.
- "Famous Singapore Chinese Supporters of Dr Sun Yat Sen". Dr Sun & 1911 Revolution. Singapore: Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall. Retrieved 14 July 2009.
- "Death [Obituary](Lim Nee Soon)". The Straits Times (Singapore). 23 March 1936. p. 2.