Syed Mohamed Alsagoff
Encyclopedia
The al-Saggoffs were spice traders and became influential by marrying into a royal family from the Celebes. They acquired many properties, like the other Arab families, including the "Perseverance Estate" where they grew lemon grass. The estate is now considered to be the heart of the Muslim community in Singapore. As well as being successful merchants and land owners, the family became involved in civic affairs. The family members, at times, held civic office from the 1870s until 1965.
Syed Abdul Rahman Alsagoff founder of an Arab Singaporean
merchant family of Hadhrami Arabic origin came to Singapore with his son Ahmed and established his firm Alsagoff and Company in 1848. His son Syed Ahmed married Princess Raja Siti, the daughter of Princess Hajjah Fatimah
. Hajjah Fatimah was a Malaccan who was married to the Sultan of Gowa Karaeng Chanda Pulih of Bugis
royalty but who had maintained a trading post at Singapore. Hajjah Fatimah built the historical Masjid Hajjah Fatimah
on Beach Road in Kampong Glam
. The Alsagoff family also started the Arabic School in Jalan Sultan in 1912.
A large section of Geylang
formally Geylang Serai formed part of the 'Perseverance Estate' which belonged to Syed Ahmed Alsagoff. The Alsagoffs had also served as Singapore Municipal commissioners from 1872 to 1898 and from 1928 to 1933.
Syed Mohamed Bin Ahmed Alsagoff was the most prominent member of the family. He received two land concessions from Sultan Abu Bakar
of Johore. One in Kukup
where he could print his own currency and the other in Kampong Nong Chik. He owned a large estate where his nephew, Syed Omar Alsagoff, lived in a palatial bungalow and entertained Europeans lavishly at what is now Kampong Bukit Tunggal near Chancery Lane. He served dinners on gold plated plates, forks and knives. There was also a lake there which was one of the attractions of old Singapore and canoes could be seen afloat in it. After his death his sons developed Bukit Tunggal Estate in the 1920s. The Alsagoffs also had property in Beach Road
and elsewhere. Raffles Hotel
was owned by the Alsagoffs.
The tomb (the Keramat) of the holy man Habib Nuh bin Muhammad Al-Habshi was built by Syed Mohamed bin Ahmed Alsagoff in about 1890 and is still maintained by the Alsagoff family. The Alsagoff family is still prominent in Singapore.
novel Lord Jim
Syed Abdul Rahman Alsagoff founder of an Arab Singaporean
Arab Singaporean
The majority of the Arabs in Singapore are Hadhramis tracing their ancestry from the southern part of the Arabian Peninsula called Hadhramaut, which is now part of the Republic of Yemen. The People's Democratic Republic of Yemen PDRY was formed on 30 November 1967 when it achieved independence...
merchant family of Hadhrami Arabic origin came to Singapore with his son Ahmed and established his firm Alsagoff and Company in 1848. His son Syed Ahmed married Princess Raja Siti, the daughter of Princess Hajjah Fatimah
Hajjah Fatimah
Hajjah Fatimah was a Singaporean philanthropist. She married a Bugis prince from Celebes who had a trading post in Singapore. Fatimah donated generously to alleviate the plight of the poor and needy in Singapore. She built mosques and houses to shelter the destitute. One of the mosques still...
. Hajjah Fatimah was a Malaccan who was married to the Sultan of Gowa Karaeng Chanda Pulih of Bugis
Bugis
The Bugis are the most numerous of the three major linguistic and ethnic groups of South Sulawesi, the southwestern province of Sulawesi, Indonesia's third largest island. Although many Bugis live in the large port cities of Makassar and Parepare, the majority are farmers who grow wet rice on the...
royalty but who had maintained a trading post at Singapore. Hajjah Fatimah built the historical Masjid Hajjah Fatimah
Masjid Hajjah Fatimah
Masjid Hajjah Fatimah is a mosque located along Beach Road in the Kampong Glam district within the Kallang Planning Area in Singapore. The mosque was completed in 1846. The mosque represented a mix of local Islamic and European architecture, having been designed by colonial architect John Turnbull...
on Beach Road in Kampong Glam
Kampong Glam
Kampong Glam is a neighbourhood in Singapore. It is located north of the Singapore River, in the urban planning areas of Kallang and Rochor.-History:...
. The Alsagoff family also started the Arabic School in Jalan Sultan in 1912.
A large section of Geylang
Geylang
Geylang is a neighbourhood in the city-state of Singapore east of the Central Area, Singapore's central business district. It is located to the east of the Singapore River, an area that locals have associated, from the days of Sir Stamford Raffles, as a Malay kampong opposite facing two islands...
formally Geylang Serai formed part of the 'Perseverance Estate' which belonged to Syed Ahmed Alsagoff. The Alsagoffs had also served as Singapore Municipal commissioners from 1872 to 1898 and from 1928 to 1933.
Syed Mohamed Bin Ahmed Alsagoff was the most prominent member of the family. He received two land concessions from Sultan Abu Bakar
Sultan Abu Bakar
Sultan Abu Bakar may refer to:* Sultan Abu Bakar of Pahang*Sultan Abu Bakar of Johor* Sultan Abu Bakar State Mosque, Johor Bahru, Malaysia, named after Sultan Abu Bakar of Johor...
of Johore. One in Kukup
Kukup
Kukup is a small fishing village located about forty kilometres southwest of Johor Bahru, in the district of Pontian, Johor, on the Strait of Malacca in Malaysia. It is famous for its open-air seafood restaurants built on stilts over the water. Some of the restaurants are geared for tour groups,...
where he could print his own currency and the other in Kampong Nong Chik. He owned a large estate where his nephew, Syed Omar Alsagoff, lived in a palatial bungalow and entertained Europeans lavishly at what is now Kampong Bukit Tunggal near Chancery Lane. He served dinners on gold plated plates, forks and knives. There was also a lake there which was one of the attractions of old Singapore and canoes could be seen afloat in it. After his death his sons developed Bukit Tunggal Estate in the 1920s. The Alsagoffs also had property in Beach Road
Beach Road
Beach Road is a road located within the Kallang Planning Area and Downtown Core in Singapore.The road starts at its junction with Crawford Street in Kallang Planning Area in the north, runs in a generally southerly direction, enters the Downtown Core at its junction with Ophir Road, and ends at...
and elsewhere. Raffles Hotel
Raffles Hotel
Raffles Hotel is a colonial-style hotel in Singapore, and one of the world's most famous hotels. The hotel was established by the famous Armenian Sarkies Brothers. Opened in 1887, it was named after Singapore's founder Sir Stamford Raffles. Managed by Fairmont Raffles Hotels International, it is...
was owned by the Alsagoffs.
The tomb (the Keramat) of the holy man Habib Nuh bin Muhammad Al-Habshi was built by Syed Mohamed bin Ahmed Alsagoff in about 1890 and is still maintained by the Alsagoff family. The Alsagoff family is still prominent in Singapore.
Jeddah Incident and Lord Jim
Outside Singapore among the historical events associated with the family was the S.S. Jeddah incident when the captain and crew abandoned the ship S.S. Jeddah with hundreds of religious pilgrims on board due to ship damage. After the captain and crew arrived in Aden the Jeddah was brought in by a second ship which found it and hauled it back saving the passengers. This incident is believed to be the inspiration for the Joseph ConradJoseph Conrad
Joseph Conrad was a Polish-born English novelist.Conrad is regarded as one of the great novelists in English, although he did not speak the language fluently until he was in his twenties...
novel Lord Jim
Lord Jim
Lord Jim is a novel by Joseph Conrad originally published as a serial in Blackwood's Magazine from October 1899 to November 1900.An early and primary event is Jim's abandonment of a ship in distress on which he is serving as a mate...