What is This Website About?

The book Seah Eu Chin: His Life and Times is about Teochew merchant Seah Eu Chin (1805-1883), an important business and community leader who played a significant part in Singapore’s early history.

One of Singapore’s pioneers, he shaped Singapore in his own way and to an extent that deserves detailed study.

And while the book focuses on Seah Eu Chin and his family, it also paints a picture of the cultural, social, and economic history of the times he lived in.

Currently, the book that tells the story of the “King of Gambier and Pepper” is available for sale at Kinokuniya bookstore and online at Seah Eu Chin: His Life and Times. Thank you for your kind support!

However, this website is more than just a companion website to Seah Eu Chin: His Life and Times.

In this website, you will also uncover information and learn stories about Seah Eu Chin’s family, including the story of Seah Liang Seah, one of his most prominent sons.

You will also learn about the Four Great Mansions of Singapore built by prominent Chinese, as well as Seah Liang Seah’s Bendemeer House (once owned by Whampoa).

You will be able to trace the steps to a magnificent tomb, from a photo-journal of author Shawn Seah’s visit to Seah Eu Chin’s final resting place at Grave Hill.

You will also discover amazing stories of other early pioneers of Singapore, including Tan Seng Poh; Tan Tock Seng; and Syed Omar Aljunied. And you will read stories of amazing war heroes, like Captain Ho Weng Toh; Dr Ee Peng Liang; and Mrs Elizabeth Choy.

In other words, this website also covers the stories of Our Amazing Heroes and Our Amazing Pioneers (based on the children’s books for primary school pupils). It is also suitable as a National Education and Total Defence resource for teachers, students, and young researchers.

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Update on the Original First Edition of Seah Eu Chin: His Life & Times (2017)

The first edition of the book, Seah Eu Chin: His Life & Times (1st edition, 2017), is currently only available at Johor Bahru Chinese Heritage Museum, 42 Jalan Ibrahim, 80000 Johor Bahru, Malaysia (while stocks last).

This limited first edition is now out of print.

It was with the kind support and encouragement of the community and NHB that this first, self-published book was fully sold out.

Because of this success, more history and heritage projects were able to come to life over the many years since 2017.

Thank you very much for your kind support!

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Seah Eu Chin – His Life & Times

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Copyright © 2017 by Shawn Seah

Webpage updated: 18 July 2025

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