One might wonder who Tan Kim Seng is. Did he even contribute to Singapore’s growth? If he is significant, then why don’t I see his name in my history textbooks? So who was Tan Kim Seng?

Tan Kim Seng was a Straits Chinese merchant who came to Singapore in 1840. He was the founder of Kim Seng and Company, a trading company, housed in Boat Quay - which was the heart of Singapore’s economic activity during the colonial era.


Apart from being a trader, Tan was also a public benefactor and a prominent Chinese leader in Singapore and Malacca. Although it is unknown if he was linked to any political party, he was often called upon to settle disputes among Chinese such as the 1854 riots between the Cantonese and Hokkien communities. The fact that he was a Chinese Magistrate in Singapore, a Justice of Peace and the first Asian to be appointed as a member of the Municipal Commission in 1857 is also commendable.

Okay, so Tan Kim Seng was a successful trader and respected leader. Yet, what was the significance of naming the fountain after him?

Well, on 18 November 1857, Tan Kim Seng offered a sum of $13 000 for a supply of free piped water to the Town from Bukit Timah. This water was to be carried through the main roads and to the Town. Thus, through the sum of money donated by Tan, the construction of pipes was made possible.Hence, to commemorate his generous donation ($13 000 was A LOT of money back then! wait, it still is.) towards the cost of the supply of water, the Municipal Council erected the Tan Kim Seng Fountain on 18 May 1882. The Victorian cast iron fountain was first erected in Fullerton Square, in front of the Exchange Building (currently known as Fullerton Builiding). In 1925, the fountain was moved to the Esplanade (Queen Elizabeth Walk). At the opening ceremony of the fountain,President of the Municipal Commission, Mr Thomas Scott honoured Tan – “Without Tan Kim Seng’s generous gift, probably our water supply would have been a thing of the future instead of an accomplished fact.”Without his generous act, Singaporeans might not be able to obtain free piped water.

Other acts of Tan Kim Seng’s philanthropy include funding a Chinese Free School (Chui Eng Institute) and supporting the building of the Tan Tock Seng Hospital. Perhaps, it is all his contributions that led to the naming of a road and a bridge after him. We believe that the fountain was constructed to indicate his contributions towards Singapore Water Works, but we do not know the significance behind naming a road (Kim Seng Road is located within Bukit Merah eastern area) and bridge (Kim Seng Bridge is located at the point where the Singapore River officially starts) after Tan.

Labels: Tan Kim Seng

posted by Jaishree

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