Photograph of Tan Tock Seng Hospital

The first purpose-built building of the Tan Tock Seng Hospital was designed in a classical style by the English architect John Turnbull Thomson.

Tan Tock Seng is remembered principally for founding Singapore’s first hospital for poor Chinese. At the request of Governor William Butterworth, Tan contributed $7000 to start a public hospital.

In 1844 the foundation was laid for the Chinese Paupers’ Hospital, which received its first patients in 1849.

The hospital was named for Tan Tock Seng after his death in 1850.