Lee Seng Tee
Encyclopedia
Dr Lee Seng Tee FBA is a businessman and philanthropist from Singapore
.
Born in Singapore in 1923, Lee is the second son of Lee Kong Chian
and grandson of Tan Kah Kee
. He is a Director of the family's Lee Group of Companies, a Singapore-based conglomerate of firms in industries that include rubber, pineapple, banking and investments. Lee is among the 40 richest in Singapore due primarily to his stake in the Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation
(OCBC). In 2009, Forbes estimated his fortune, combined with that of his younger brother Lee Seng Wee
, to be $800 million.
, Lee also supports education, particularly higher education
, around the world through personal donations towards building libraries and reading rooms, as well as supporting the acquisition of published resources for some of the most famous libraries in the world, which include the Needham Research Institute
at the University of Cambridge
and the Bodleian Library
at the University of Oxford
. He was named an honorary fellow of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals for his philanthropic support of libraries worldwide.
In China, Lee's support for the Chinese Chess Association
(中国国际象棋协会) has included the Lee Seng Tee Library at the Chess Academy in Beijing, the ST Lee Beijing International Open, and the Lee Seng Tee Cup (李成智杯). Other projects include the Lee Seng Tee Public Library (李成智公众图书馆) in Nan'an City (南安市), Fujian Province, where his father was born.
Lee also funds projects and lecture series at universities, including Cambridge and Oxford in the United Kingdom, Stanford University
and Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, in the United States, the University of Sydney
in Australia, Victoria University of Wellington
in New Zealand, University of the Witwatersrand
in South Africa, and the National University of Singapore
The S.T. Lee Lectures provide a platform for scholars and policy-makers to address critical international issues.
(1998) and Foreign Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
(2001), as well as an Honorary Fellow of Wolfson College, Cambridge
and Oriel College, Oxford. Lee is a Member of the Guild of Cambridge Benefactors.
Lee graduated from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
with a bachelor's degree in economics in 1950. Lee has also received honorary degrees from the Asian Institute of Technology
(1998) in Thailand, Victoria University (2006) and Washington University in St. Louis
(2008).
In October 2009, he was conferred the NUS Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters by Singapore President and NUS Chancellor S R Nathan.
Lee has a variety of bamboo, the Drepanostachyum falcatum var. sengteeanum, named after him.
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
.
Born in Singapore in 1923, Lee is the second son of Lee Kong Chian
Lee Kong Chian
Lee Kong Chian , was a prominent businessman and philanthropist and the founder of The Lee Foundation in Singapore. He was one of Southeast Asia's richest men in the 1950s and 1960s. He was the son-in-law of philanthropist Tan Kah Kee.-Early life:...
and grandson of Tan Kah Kee
Tan Kah Kee
Tan Kah Kee was a prominent businessman, community leader, and philanthropist in colonial Singapore, and a Communist leader in the People's Republic of China.- Early years :...
. He is a Director of the family's Lee Group of Companies, a Singapore-based conglomerate of firms in industries that include rubber, pineapple, banking and investments. Lee is among the 40 richest in Singapore due primarily to his stake in the Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation
Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation
The Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation Limited , abbreviated as OCBC Bank , is a publicly listed financial services organisation with its head office in Singapore. OCBC Bank is one of Singapore's leading local banks, with group assets of more than 224 billion SGD. It has one of the highest bank...
(OCBC). In 2009, Forbes estimated his fortune, combined with that of his younger brother Lee Seng Wee
Lee Seng Wee
Lee Seng Wee is a billionaire from Singapore, having a net worth of US$1.9 billion in 2004. He is the son of Lee Kong Chian. He studied at the University of Toronto and the University of Western Ontario, where he received a Master's degree...
, to be $800 million.
Philanthropy
Deputy Chairman of Lee FoundationLee Foundation
Lee Foundation is a charitable foundation in Singapore created to aid "the advancement of education, medicine and cultural activities; helping the poor; and assisting victims of fire, flood and famine", It also funded other philanthropic work...
, Lee also supports education, particularly higher education
Higher education
Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...
, around the world through personal donations towards building libraries and reading rooms, as well as supporting the acquisition of published resources for some of the most famous libraries in the world, which include the Needham Research Institute
Needham Research Institute
The Needham Research Institute or NRI, located on the grounds of the Robinson College, in Cambridge, England, is a center for research into the history of science, technology and medicine in East Asia. It is part of the University of Cambridge...
at the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
and the Bodleian Library
Bodleian Library
The Bodleian Library , the main research library of the University of Oxford, is one of the oldest libraries in Europe, and in Britain is second in size only to the British Library...
at the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
. He was named an honorary fellow of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals for his philanthropic support of libraries worldwide.
In China, Lee's support for the Chinese Chess Association
Chinese Chess Association
The Chinese Chess Association is the governing body of chess in China and is one of the federations of FIDE. It is also a member of the Asian Chess Federation . It is the principal authority over all chess events in China, including the China Chess League...
(中国国际象棋协会) has included the Lee Seng Tee Library at the Chess Academy in Beijing, the ST Lee Beijing International Open, and the Lee Seng Tee Cup (李成智杯). Other projects include the Lee Seng Tee Public Library (李成智公众图书馆) in Nan'an City (南安市), Fujian Province, where his father was born.
Lee also funds projects and lecture series at universities, including Cambridge and Oxford in the United Kingdom, Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
and Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, in the United States, the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
in Australia, Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington was established in 1897 by Act of Parliament, and was a former constituent college of the University of New Zealand. It is particularly well known for its programmes in law, the humanities, and some scientific disciplines, but offers a broad range of other courses...
in New Zealand, University of the Witwatersrand
University of the Witwatersrand
The University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg is a South African university situated in the northern areas of central Johannesburg. It is more commonly known as Wits University...
in South Africa, and the National University of Singapore
National University of Singapore
The National University of Singapore is Singapore's oldest university. It is the largest university in the country in terms of student enrollment and curriculum offered....
The S.T. Lee Lectures provide a platform for scholars and policy-makers to address critical international issues.
Recognition
Lee is an Honorary Fellow of the British AcademyBritish Academy
The British Academy is the United Kingdom's national body for the humanities and the social sciences. Its purpose is to inspire, recognise and support excellence in the humanities and social sciences, throughout the UK and internationally, and to champion their role and value.It receives an annual...
(1998) and Foreign Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
American Academy of Arts and Sciences
The American Academy of Arts and Sciences is an independent policy research center that conducts multidisciplinary studies of complex and emerging problems. The Academy’s elected members are leaders in the academic disciplines, the arts, business, and public affairs.James Bowdoin, John Adams, and...
(2001), as well as an Honorary Fellow of Wolfson College, Cambridge
Wolfson College, Cambridge
Wolfson College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England. Wolfson is one of a small number of Cambridge colleges which admit only students over the age of 21. The majority of students at the college are postgraduates, with around 15% studying undergraduate...
and Oriel College, Oxford. Lee is a Member of the Guild of Cambridge Benefactors.
Lee graduated from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania
The Wharton School is the business school of the University of Pennsylvania, an Ivy League university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Wharton was the world’s first collegiate business school and the first business school in the United States...
with a bachelor's degree in economics in 1950. Lee has also received honorary degrees from the Asian Institute of Technology
Asian Institute of Technology
The Asian Institute of Technology is an international institution for higher education in engineering, advanced technologies, and management and planning...
(1998) in Thailand, Victoria University (2006) and Washington University in St. Louis
Washington University in St. Louis
Washington University in St. Louis is a private research university located in suburban St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1853, and named for George Washington, the university has students and faculty from all fifty U.S. states and more than 110 nations...
(2008).
In October 2009, he was conferred the NUS Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters by Singapore President and NUS Chancellor S R Nathan.
Lee has a variety of bamboo, the Drepanostachyum falcatum var. sengteeanum, named after him.