Tan Kah Kee was a resident of Jimei, Xiamen, China.He was born in October 21, 1874. He went to Singapore in 1890 to work for his father's rice store. When the it collapsed in 1903, he started his own bussiness and became a very successful bussinessman from rubber plantations, trading and other bussinesses. With the profit he made from his bussiness, he contributed greatly to the setting up of schools. He founded both the Jimei University (China) and Hwa Chong Institution (Singapore). He suppoted the school financially until the Chinese government took over. In 1920, he married his daughter to Lee Kong Chian who worked under him at that time. Lee Kong Chian also became a famous philanthropist and bussinessman in later years.
He died in August 12, 1961. He was a prominent bussinessman and philanthropist in colonial Singapore. However, he died penniless because he spent all his wealth in building and financially supporting schools. His children were not given a single cent.
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