Tan Chay Yan
Encyclopedia
Tan Chay Yan was a rubber plantation merchant and philanthropist
. A Peranakan
, Tan is the grandson of philanthropist Tan Tock Seng
by his father, Tan Teck Guan.
Tan was noted in Malayan history as the first man to plant rubber on a commercial basis, after he was introduced to rubber planting by Henry Nicholas Ridley
. Subsequently, Tan started a 22 acres (89,030.9 m²) rubber estate at Bukit Lintang. He then ventured his rubber plantation business into Sri Lanka
. According to his family, Tan's rubber plantation still belonged to the family.
As a philanthropist, Tan also gave $
15,000 towards the setting up of a medical college in Singapore. The donation went towards the construction of the Tan Teck Guan Building
, which Tan named in memory of his late father. Tan also served as a Municipal Councillor and a Trustee of the Cheng Hoon Teng
Temple.
There is a variety of orchid named Vanda Tan Chay Yan, according to one of the Peranakan Cina Melaka's annual dinner souvenir books, but there is no record of who named it such. The Vanda Tan Chay Yan was named by his son Robert Tan Hoon Siang who personally developed the hybrid. A road in Melaka was also named after him in view of his contributions to the country's revenue.
Tan died of malaria at the age of 46. A relative believed he could have caught it as he often spent the long hours spent at the rubber plantations. Tan left behind his wife, Chua Wan Neo, a tenth generation Nyonya, six daughters and a son.
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
. A Peranakan
Peranakan
Peranakan Chinese and Baba-Nyonya are terms used for the descendants of late 15th and 16th-century Chinese immigrants to the Indonesian archipelago of Nusantara during the Colonial era....
, Tan is the grandson of philanthropist Tan Tock Seng
Tan Tock Seng
Tan Tock Seng was a Singaporean merchant and philanthropist. Born in Malacca in 1798 to an immigrant Fukien father and Hokkien Peranakan mother, Tan rose from humble origins. In 1819, Tan moved to Singapore to sell fruit, vegetable and fowl...
by his father, Tan Teck Guan.
Tan was noted in Malayan history as the first man to plant rubber on a commercial basis, after he was introduced to rubber planting by Henry Nicholas Ridley
Henry Nicholas Ridley
Henry Nicholas Ridley CMG , MA , FRS, FLS, F.R.H.S. was an English botanist and geologist.Born at West Harling Hall, Norfolk, England...
. Subsequently, Tan started a 22 acres (89,030.9 m²) rubber estate at Bukit Lintang. He then ventured his rubber plantation business into Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
. According to his family, Tan's rubber plantation still belonged to the family.
As a philanthropist, Tan also gave $
Straits dollar
The Straits dollar was the currency of the Straits Settlements from 1904 until 1939. At the same time, it was also used in the Federated Malay States, the Unfederated Malay States, Sarawak, Brunei, and British North Borneo.-History:...
15,000 towards the setting up of a medical college in Singapore. The donation went towards the construction of the Tan Teck Guan Building
Tan Teck Guan Building
Tan Teck Guan Building is a historic building on MacAlister Road, within the compound of Singapore General Hospital in Bukit Merah, Singapore. The building currently houses offices of the Ministry of Health.-Establishment of medical school:...
, which Tan named in memory of his late father. Tan also served as a Municipal Councillor and a Trustee of the Cheng Hoon Teng
Cheng Hoon Teng
The Cheng Hoon Teng temple is a Taoist temple, located at No. 25 Jalan Tokong, Malacca Town, Malaysia. It is the oldest functioning temple in Malaysia.- Overview :...
Temple.
There is a variety of orchid named Vanda Tan Chay Yan, according to one of the Peranakan Cina Melaka's annual dinner souvenir books, but there is no record of who named it such. The Vanda Tan Chay Yan was named by his son Robert Tan Hoon Siang who personally developed the hybrid. A road in Melaka was also named after him in view of his contributions to the country's revenue.
Tan died of malaria at the age of 46. A relative believed he could have caught it as he often spent the long hours spent at the rubber plantations. Tan left behind his wife, Chua Wan Neo, a tenth generation Nyonya, six daughters and a son.