Lee Choon Guan
Lee Choon Guan | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1868 Singapore |
| Died | 1924-08-27 |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, benefactor |
| Known for | Managing Lee Cheng Yan & Co., founding Chinese Commercial Bank, member of Legislative Council of the Straits Settlements |
Lee Choon Guan (1868 – 27 August 1924) was a prominent Straits Chinese entrepreneur and benefactor. He managed Lee Cheng Yan & Co., played a key role in founding the Chinese Commercial Bank, participated in the Municipal Commission of Singapore, and acted as a member of the Legislative Council of the Straits Settlements.
Early life and education
Born in Singapore in 1868, Lee was the son of Lee Cheng Yan and received education through private tutors.
Career
Lee's professional journey started as an assistant within his family business, Lee Cheng Yan & Co., which his father had established on Telok Ayer Street. Upon his father's passing in 1911, he took over the company's leadership. In 1912, together with notable Straits Chinese businessmen such as Lim Peng Siang and Lim Boon Keng, he co-established the Chinese Commercial Bank and assumed its chairmanship. Lee also held directorships at the Malayan branch of the Straits Steamship Company Limited and the South British Insurance Company, as well as involvement in various rubber, tin, and industrial sectors.
In public service, Lee represented Central Ward on the Municipal Commission of Singapore for a period of five years. In 1918, after Lim Boon Keng left for China, Lee temporarily filled the position of Chinese member on the Legislative Council of the Straits Settlements. His civic engagements included membership on the Singapore Housing Commission, Board of Food Control, Straits Chinese British Association, Chinese Advisory Board, and the management committee of Tan Tock Seng Hospital. Additionally, he served as a justice of the peace and was the first president of the Singapore Chinese Weekly Entertainment Club.
Personal life and death
Lee's first marriage was to the daughter of Wee Boon Teck, with whom he had two sons and two daughters. Following her passing, he wed Tan Teck Neo, a well-known socialite and philanthropist; they had one son and one daughter together. The family lived at Mandalay Villa on Amber Road, previously owned by his father. An enthusiastic tennis player, Lee also presided over the Straits Chinese Recreation Club.
As a philanthropist, Lee contributed $60,000 to the endowment fund of Raffles College and donated $50,000 to Methodist College. Both he and Tan each gave $5,000 toward constructing facilities at St Andrew's Mission Hospital for Women and Children. During World War I, Lee partnered with Lim Peng Siang to donate an aircraft to support the British Army.
Lee passed away on 27 August 1924.