Tay Geok Teat

Tay Geok Teat
郑玉瓞(哲)
Born1832 (1832)
Malacca,  Straits Settlements
DiedApril 21, 1893(1893-04-21) (aged 60–61)
Amoy Street, Singapore,  Straits Settlements
OccupationMerchant
FatherTay Song Quee

Tay Geok Teat (1832 - 21 April 1893) was a prominent Chinese merchant who was a founder the firm Geok Teat & Co., and was briefly a member of the Municipal Commission of Singapore.

Biography

Tay was born in Malacca in 1832 to Tay Song Quee, a trader from Zhangzhou, China.[1] Tay moved to Singapore when he was young and briefly became a member of the Municipal Commission, although he resigned after the death of his wife.[2] In 1863, the firm Warehousemen and Commission Agents, which later became Geok Teat & Co. was founded by Tay, Tan Kim Tian, Tan Sam Chie and Chia Ann Siang. His son, Tay Kim Tee, was introduced into the business in 1871. In 1885, he and Lee Cheng Yan toured several countries in Europe, including England.[1][3] During their visit to England, they were billed as the first two Straits-born Chinese to visit Great Britain for commercial purposes.[4] After his return to Singapore from Europe, he formed a band with his grandchildren, and would occasionally join in by playing the violin, which he was fond of. Somewhere around 1888, Tay travelled extensively in China and visited Japan.[1]

Death and legacy

Tay died on 21 April 1893 at his residence on Amoy Street.[2][5] Following his death, his son took over his business.[1] After his death, Geok Teat Street was named after Tay. The street is now defunct[6]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Song, Ong Siang (1923). One Hundred Years' History of the Chinese in Singapore. J. Murray. p. 122-123.
  2. ^ a b "THE LATE MR TAY GEOK TEAT". The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser. Singapore. 21 April 1893. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
  3. ^ "Two Singapore Chinese Citizens in Birmingham". Straits Times Weekly Issue. Singapore. 23 August 1883. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
  4. ^ Chua, Alvin. "Lee Cheng Yan". Singapore Infopedia. National Library Board. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
  5. ^ "100 YEARS AGO". The Straits Times. Singapore. 22 April 1993.
  6. ^ Savage, Victor R.; Yeoh, Brenda S.A. (15 June 2013). Singapore Street Names: A Study of Toponymics. Singapore: Marshall Cavendish International, Singapore. p. 135. ISBN 9814484741.