John Gemmill
John Gemmill was a British businessman, private banker, storekeeper, and the first auctioneer of Singapore. He donated the Gemmill Fountain to the public in 1864.
Biography
[edit]Gemmill born in the United Kingdom, and moved to Singapore in 1828.[1] He was originally a shopkeeper, and after the Singapore Temperance Society was formed in 1837, he released an advertisement for his shop, stating that he was selling alcohol.[2][3] He later became an auctioneer, and was the first auctioneer in the colony.[4] In January 1839, Gemmill began a private banking business, as there were no banks in the colony yet.[5] He bought Scott's Hill, and renamed it Gemmill's Hill.[6][7]
In 1864, Gemmill donated a marble drinking fountain to the government of Singapore for public use.[8] The fountain was named Gemmill Fountain, and was largely forgotten until 1923, when it was found in a Municipal store and placed in front of the Victoria Memorial Hall.[9] Gemmill Lane was named in honour of Gemmill after his death.[10]
References
[edit]- ^ "An Occsional Note". The Straits Times. Singapore. 25 August 1926. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
- ^ "On the Margin". The Straits Times. Singapore. 8 June 1950. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
- ^ "A Singapore Diary". The Straits Budget. Singapore. 15 June 1950. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
- ^ ""For All nations"". The Straits Budget. Singapore. 18 May 1939. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
- ^ "Singapore Sixty Years Ago". The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser. Singapore. 22 June 1897. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
- ^ Edwards, Norman (1996). Singapore : a guide to buildings, streets, places. Peter Keys. Singapore. ISBN 981-204-781-6. OCLC 71791463.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ "Gemmill's Lane". The Straits Budget. Singapore. 8 June 1937. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
- ^ "Singapore In The 19th Century: When There Were Only Seventy-Five Europeans Here". The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser. Singapore. 6 February 1939. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
- ^ "A Bygone Singapore European". The Straits Times. Singapore. 8 June 1950. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
- ^ "Nee Soon named after 'Pineapple King'". New Nation. Singapore. 10 September 1979. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
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