'''See Ewe Lay''' (c. 1851 - 29 August 1906), alternatively spelled '''Seet Ewe Lay''', was a descendant of the wealthy Peranakan See clan and the founder of ''Lat Pau'', the first major Chinese newspaper in Singapore.
==Biography== See was born in Malacca in about 1851. He was the eldest son of See Eng Wat, a prominent Chinese merchant, the grandson of See Hoot Kee, a leader of the early Hokkien communities in Malacca and Singapore, and the older brother See Ewe Boon, who became the comprador of the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank in Singapore.<ref name = "One Hundred Years">{{cite book|title=One Hundred Years' History of the Chinese in Singapore|page= 104|isbn=|access-date=|author= Song, Ong Siang|publisher=J. Murray|year=1923}}</ref><ref name = "General History">{{cite book|title=A General History Of The Chinese In Singapore|pages= 390–391|isbn= 9813277653|access-date=|last1= Chong|first1= Guang Kwa|last2= Bak|first2= Lim Kua|publisher=World Scientific|year=2019}}</ref> He frequently accompanied his father on business trips to Xiamen.<ref name = "General History" /> See came to Singapore to join the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank as a comprador.<ref name = "Reference@NLB">{{cite web |last= |first= |date= |title= See Ewe Lay|url= https://reference.nlb.gov.sg/guides/singapore/people/see-ewe-lay/|website= Reference@NLB|publisher= National Library Board|location= Singapore|access-date=18 June 2022}}</ref>
See founded ''Lat Pau'', the first major Chinese newspaper in Singapore, in 1881, despite being proficient in English. He founded the paper for an unknown reason, possibly either for profit, or to raise social awareness and cultural standards.<ref name = "Leong">{{cite news |last= Leong|first= Weng Kam|date= 30 May 2016|title= Exhibition shows early days of Chinese newspapers here|url= |work= The Straits Times|location= Singapore|access-date=}}</ref> During the Baring crisis, See insisted publishing Lat Pau.<ref name = "Reference@NLB" /> Following the death of Municipal Board member Lim Eng Keng, the ''Singapore Free Press & Mercantile Advertiser'' suggested that See be nominated to join the board in 1892, due to his proficiency in English, as well as his occupation as the editor and proprietor of ''Lat Pau'', which forced him to keep up with the times.<ref name = "One Hundred Years" /> However, he turned down the invitation to be elected as its board member, as he wanted to focus on publishing ''Lat Pau'' instead.<ref name = "Reference@NLB" />
==Personal life== See married a daughter of prominent Hokkien merchant Chia Ann Siang.<ref name = "One Hundred Years" /> He died of a sudden heart attack on 29 August 1906 at his residence on 93 Chin Swee Road.<ref name = "Leong" /><ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date= 30 August 1906|title= "LAT PAU" EDITOR DEAD.|url= https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/easterndaily19060830-1.2.43|work= Eastern Daily Mail and Straits Morning Advertiser|location= Singapore|access-date= 18 June 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date= 30 August 1906|title= DEATH OF A CHINESE EDITOR.|url= https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitsbudget19060830-1.2.90|work= The Straits Budget|location= Singapore|access-date= 18 June 2022}}</ref> Following his death, his son, See Tiow Hyong, took over propriertorship of ''Lat Pao''.<ref name = "General History" />
==References== {{Reflist}}
Category:1850s births Category:1906 deaths Category:People from British Singapore