Wee Bin

Wee Bin (Chinese: 黃敏; pinyin: Huáng Mǐn; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Ûiⁿ Bín) born in China in 1823, was a Chinese migrant of the mid-nineteenth century who founded what was, at the time, Singapore's largest Chinese shipping firm.[1][2][3][4][5]

Wee Bin
Born1823
Fujian, Qing dynasty Qing empire
Died1868 (aged 44–45)
Occupation(s)Merchant, trader
Known forFounder of Wee Bin & Co.

At the age of thirty-three, Wee Bin founded Wee Bin & Co., under the chop Hong Guan, in 1856. The firm was based in Market Street, and became prominent in the 1860s.[6] Wee ran the firm according to Western business practices.[2][7] Wee Bin, through his firm, carried on business as merchants and shipowners.[1] At first, he began business relations with various trading houses in Bali (then part of the Dutch Indies), and eventually became the greatest importer of products from that port. He also traded in all kinds of earthenware, and later on built up a fleet of over twenty vessels for the Chinese and Dutch Indies trade. With increasing interest in the tin mining industry and the need for more and more people to work the mines, Wee Bin was also responsible for carrying migrant workers from China to work in the Straits Settlements.[8]

Wee Bin married the daughter of Kiong Kong Tuan. He died in 1868 at the age of 45, leaving an only son, Wee Boon Teck, and an only daughter. Wee Bin's daughter married Lim Ho Puah, who would later take over Wee Bin & Co., before passing it on to his fourth son Lim Peng Siang.[9]

References
  1. One Hundred Years' History of the Chinese in Singapore by Ong Siang Song, 1923
  2. Family and State: The Formation of a Sino-Thai Tin-mining Dynasty, 1797-1932 By Jennifer Wayne Cushman, Craig J. Reynolds Contributor Craig J. Reynolds Published by Oxford University Press, 1991; ISBN 0-19-588966-5, ISBN 978-0-19-588966-6; p. 63, 67, 172
  3. Records and Recollections (1889-1934): Chinese Women, Prostitution & a Welfare Organisation By Neil Jin Keong Khor, Keat Siew Khoo, Izrin Muaz Md. Adnan Published by Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, 2004; ISBN 967-9948-32-3, ISBN 978-967-9948-32-5; p. 58
  4. Home port Singapore: a history of Straits Steamship Company Limited, 1890-1965 By K. G. Tregonning, Published by Oxford University Press for Straits Steamship Co. ltd., 1967
  5. Chinese business enterprise, Volume 4 by Rajeswary Ampalavanar Brown, Published by Taylor & Francis, 1996, ISBN 0-415-14293-8, ISBN 978-0-415-14293-9, p 57
  6. Asian culture, Issue 28 by Singapore Society of Asian Studies, published by Xinjiapo Yazhou yan jiu xue hui, 2004
  7. Family and state: the formation of a Sino-Thai Tin-mining dynasty, 1797-1932 South-East Asian historical monographs by Jennifer Wayne Cushman, Craig J. Reynolds, published by the Oxford University Press, 1991, ISBN 0-19-588966-5, ISBN 978-0-19-588966-6
  8. An Official Guide to Eastern Asia, Trans-continental Connections Between Europe and Asia ... By Japan Dept. of Railways, Japan Tetsudōin, Japan Teikoku Tetsudōchō Published by s.n., 1915 Item notes: v.4; p. 32
  9. Twentieth century impressions of British Malaya: its history, people, commerce, industries, and resources Author: Wright, Arnold (Publication Info: London, Durban, Colombo, Perth (W. A.), Singapore, Hongkong, and Shanghai by Lloyd's Greater Britain Publishing Company, limited)

Further reading
  • Joseph Norbert Frans Marie à Campo (2002). Engines of Empire : steamshipping and state formation in colonial Indonesia. Hilversum: Uitgeverij Verloren. ISBN 9065507388. OCLC 53057901.
  • Koninklijke Paketvaart Maatschappij: stoomvaart en staatsvorming in de Indonesische archipel 1888-1914 - Volume 3 of Publikaties van de Faculteit der Historische en Kunstwetenschappen By Joseph Norbert Frans Marie à Campo, published by Verloren, 1992, ISBN 90-6550-403-6, ISBN 978-90-6550-403-6
  • G. W. Huff (1997). The economic growth of Singapore : trade and development in the twentieth century. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0521629446. OCLC 41199860.
  • Carl A. Trocki (1990). Opium and empire : Chinese society in Colonial Singapore, 1800-1910. Ithaca, N.Y.: Cornell University Press. ISBN 0801423902. OCLC 21562353.
  • Lee Poh Ping (1978). Chinese society in nineteenth century Singapore. Kuala Lumpur: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0195803841. OCLC 4310983.
  • Toong Siong Shih (2004). Foochows of Sitiawan. Sitiawan, Perak: Persatuan Kutien Daerah Manjung. ISBN 9789834182403. OCLC 62255387.
  • Victor R. Savage; Brenda S. A. Yeoh (2003). Toponymics : a study of Singapore street names. Singapore: Eastern Universities Press. ISBN 9812102051. OCLC 51920982.
  • The Great circle: journal of the Australian Association for Maritime History, Volumes 6-9 by the Australian Association for Maritime History, published by The Association, 1984
  • The Nautical Magazine, Volumes 163-164, Published 1950
  • Parliamentary papers, Volume 108 by Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons, published by HMSO, 1906 ( Item notes: v. 108 - 1906)
  • Parliamentary papers, Volume 93 by Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons published by HMSO (His/Her Majesty's Stationery Office), 1909
  • Frans-Paul van der Putten (2001). Corporate behaviour and political risk : Dutch companies in China, 1903-1941. Leiden: Research School of Asian, African and Amerindian Studies, Leiden University. ISBN 9789057890611. OCLC 47904926.
  • Peter Lee; Jennifer Chen (1998). Rumah Baba : life in a peranakan house. Singapore: National Heritage Board, Singapore History Museum. ISBN 9810099924. OCLC 40868933.
  • Sociétés et compagnies de commerce en Orient et dans l'océan Indien - Volume 6 of Bibliothèque générale de l'École pratique des hautes études, Bibliothèque générale de l'École pratique des hautes études. Sciences économiques et sociales, Bibliothèque générale de l'École des hautes études en sciences sociales by Michel Mollat, Published by S.E.V.P.E.N., 1970
  • Ewald (Ewald Maria Gerardus Antonius) Vanvugt (1995). De schatten van Lombok : honderd jaar Nederlandse oorlogsbuit uit Indonesië. Sjoerd de Jong (2e gew. dr. ed.). Amsterdam: Jan Mets. ISBN 9053301607. OCLC 906713740.
  • I Gde Parimartha (2002). Perdagangan dan politik di Nusa Tenggara, 1815-1915. Jakarta: Perwakilan KITLV. ISBN 9794284475. OCLC 52108765.
  • Leo Suryadinata (2002). Ethnic Chinese in Singapore and Malaysia : a dialogue between tradition and modernity. Singapore: Times Academic Press. ISBN 9812101861. OCLC 51653366.
  • Twentieth century impressions of British Malaya: its history, people, commerce, industries, and resources Author: Wright, Arnold (Publication Info: London, Durban, Colombo, Perth (W. A.), Singapore, Hong Kong, and Shanghai by Lloyd's Greater Britain Publishing Company, limited)
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