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 Peck Hay (阮碧霞)
Children Sons:
Lim Chong Kuo (林忠國)
Lim Chong Pang (林忠邦)
Lim Chong Min (林忠民)
Daughters:
Lim Chek Geck (林積玉, a.k.a. Mrs Oei Tjong Tiong)
Lim Kheng Geck (林瓊玉, a.k.a. Mrs See Bong Him)
Mrs Tan Tuck Hoe (maiden name unknown)
Lim Mui Gek (林美玉)
Lim Lek Gek (林綠玉)
Lim Seok Gek (林雪玉)
Parent(s) Father: Lim Peng Nguan (林炳源)
Mother: Teo Choon Lian (張春蓮)
Relatives Maternal Grandfather: Teo Lee (張理)
Maternal Grandmother: Tan Poh Neo (陳寶娘)
Maternal Uncle: Teo Eng Hock (張永福)

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 (Chinese: 峇順芭; pinyin: Bā shùn bā). 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 Peck Hay (Chinese: 阮碧霞; pinyin: Ruǎn Bì Xiá) 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. For example, Chong Kuo Road is named after his eldest son Lim Chong Kuo, and Chong Pang City his second son Lim Chong Pang.

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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