Lee Chin Koon

In this Chinese name, the family name is Lee.

Lee Chin Koon (1 June 1903 – 12 October 1997) was a Singaporean storekeeper, manager, and salesman who was formerly employed with the Shell Oil Company. Prominently, he was also the father of Lee Kuan Yew and the paternal grandfather of Lee Hsien Loong, the first and third Prime Minister of Singapore respectively.

Lee Chin Koon
Lee in 1936; his son Dennis is at the bottom left
Born	1 June 1903 Semarang, Central Java, Dutch East Indies
Died	12 October 1997(1997-10-12) (aged 94) Singapore
Spouse	Chua Jim Neo ​ ​ (m. 1921; died 1980)​
Children	5; including Lee Kuan Yew
Relatives	Lee family

Early life and career

Lee was born on 1 June 1903 in the port city of Semarang, Central Java, during Dutch colonial rule. He was from an upper-class family of Straits Chinese descent and was raised in an English-speaking household.^[1] His parents were Hakka-Peranakan Lee Hoon Leong (1871–1942) and Indonesian-Peranakan Ko Liem Nio (1883–1959).^[2]

His father, Lee Hoon Leong, worked as a pharmacist and later became a purser at Heap Eng Moh Shipping Line. His family later moved to Singapore when he was five, where he studied at St. Joseph's Institution.^[2]

During the Great Depression, Lee's family was affected but,^[1] in the 1930s, he managed to secure a job as a storekeeper for Shell Oil Company, later becoming a manager after World War II.^[2] He later worked at a shop at High Street, selling watches and jewellery.^[3]

In 1957, he helped his son Lee Kuan Yew campaign at the Tanjong Pagar by-election.^[4]

Personal life

Lee married Chua Jim Neo (1905–1980) on 20 May 1922 when he was 18 and she was 16 in a traditional Chinese arranged marriage by Chua's family.^[5] Together they had 5 children including the first Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew.^[6] In 1945, Lee and Chua bought a bungalow at 38 Oxley Road.^[1] Lee was a frequent gambler, usually being stood up by Chua when he went to gamble.^[7]

In 1959, after Lee Kuan Yew was elected Prime Minister, Lee led a mostly private life, having told a cousin, "I don't like publicity."^[8]

Death

Lee died on 12 October 1997 at the age of 94. His wife had died in 1980.^[9]

Family tree of Lee Kuan Yew

Lee Bok Boon 1846–1920 Seow Huan Neo 1850–c. 1931 Lee Hoon Leong 1871–1942 Ko Liem Nio 1883–1959 Lee Chin Koon 1903–1997[10] Chua Jim Neo 1907–1980 Lee Kuan Yew 1923–2015 Kwa Geok Choo 1920–2010 Dennis Lee Kim Yew 1925–2003[11] Gloria Lee (Woo) Sau Yin 1926–2023[12] Freddy Lee Thiam Yew 1927–2012[13] Eleanor Ngo Puay Chin[12] Monica Lee Kim Mon b. 1929[14] George Chan Chor Cheung[12] Dr Lee Suan Yew b. 1933[15] Pamela Chong[12] Wong Ming Yang 1951–1982[16] Lee Hsien Loong b. 1952 Ho Ching b. 1953 Lee Wei Ling 1955–2024 Lee Hsien Yang b. 1957 Lim Suet Fern b. 1958[17] Li Xiuqi b. 1981[18] Li Yipeng b. 1982[18] Li Hongyi b. 1987[18] Li Haoyi b. 1989[18] Li Shengwu b. 1985[18] Li Huanwu b. 1986[18] Li Shaowu b. 1995[18]