Yin Suat Chuan

Introduction

Born in Xiamen, Fujian in China, Yin Suat Chuan (殷雪村; 1876–1958), was a Western-trained medical doctor. He came to Singapore in 1898 to work as a court interpreter. He left Singapore the following year to study medicine at the University of Michigan in the United States and completed his training at Toronto University in Canada. He obtained his postgraduate degree at University College London in 1904. He worked in several major hospitals in London before returning to Singapore to join his brother-in-law, Lim Boon Keng, in private practice. Yin and Lim established the Anti-Opium Society in 1906 and opened an opium refuge centre for addicts. Yin was the co-founder of the Eastern United Assurance Corporation, Overseas Assurance Corporation, Oversea-Chinese Bank Ltd and General Chinese Trade Affairs Association. He was also the founding president of the Straits Chinese Football Association, a municipal commissioner, and was made a Justice of Peace in 1925. Yin passed away on 2 April 1958 at 82.

Selected books on Yin Suat Chuan

• 柯木林. (主编). [Ke, M. L. (Ed.).] (1995). 新华历史人物列传 [Who’s who in the Chinese community of Singapore]. 新加坡: 教育出版公司, pp. 164–165. Call no.: RSING Chinese 959.570092 WHO -[HIS]. The book contains the biographies of 1,175 Chinese personalities in Singapore, covering the period from 1819 to 1990. Each biography contains birth and death dates, dialect group, occupation and affiliated organisations of the Chinese personality. Yin Suat Chuan’s biography is also included.

• Lee, K. L. (1988). The Singapore house 1819–1942. Singapore: Times Editions for Preservation of Monuments Board, pp. 214–215. Call no.: RSING 728.095957 LEE. This book is a study of the various domestic architectural styles that flourished in Singapore from 1819 until 1942. Includes brief description, building plan & photograph of the house of Yin Suat Chuan at Gilstead Road.

• Wright, A., & Cartwright, H. A. (Eds.). (1908). Twentieth century impressions of British Malaya: its history, people, commerce, industries, and resources. London: Lloyd’s Greater Britain Publishing Company Limited, p. 160. Call no.: RCLOS 959.51033 TWE. The book contains details of the geography, population, flora and fauna, industries, culture and prominent figures of Malaya during the beginning of the 20th century. It includes a short biography of Yin Suat Chuan who was involved in anti-opium campaigns in the Straits Settlements.

Selected newspaper articles on Yin Suat Chuan

• Death. (1958, April 3). The Straits Times, p. 7. Retrieved from NewspaperSG. This is a notice on the death of Yin Suat Chuan who passed away on 2 April 1958 at his residence due to illness.

• Dr. S. C. Yin (Son created ‘The Saint’) dies at 82. (1958, April 3). The Singapore Free Press, p. 1. Retrieved from NewspaperSG. This is a short write-up on Yin Suat Chuan who passed away on 2 April 1958 at his residence. He was survived by his wife and six sons, one of whom is Leslie Charteris, author of the famous crime fiction The Saint.

• ‘The Saint’s’ father dies at 82. (1958, April 4). Singapore Standard, p. 5. Retrieved from NewspaperSG. This is a short report on Yin Suat Chuan who passed away on 2 April 1958 at his residence after a long illness. He was survived by his wife and six sons, Jackie, Johan, Jordan, Joey, Roy and Leslie.

• Author’s father is buried in Colony. (1958, April 5). The Straits Times, p. 9. Retrieved from NewspaperSG. This is a short write-up on Yin Suat Chuan who passed away on 2 April 1958 at 82. He was buried at Bidadari Cemetery.

• Tan, S. E. (2003, August 3). Four good tales and a possible 5th dimension. The Straits Times, p. 18. Retrieved from NewspaperSG. This newspaper article discusses Yin Suat Chuan’s two-storey mansion at Gilstead Road built in 1927, and its occupants over the years.