Lim Nee Soon

Lim Nee Soon (林義順)
Born November 12, 1879
Singapore
Died March 20, 1936(1936-03-20) (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: ; 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

  1. "Lim Nee Soon To Be Buried in Nanking". The Sunday Times (Singapore). 12 April 1936. p. 1.

Secondary sources

External links

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