Nissim Nassim Adis (b. 17 May 1857, Howrah, India1–d. 5 September 1927, Mussoorie, India2) was a well-known Jewish businessman who arrived in Singapore in 1893. He was the proprietor of Hotel de L’Europe and the head of Adis & Co., a stock broking firm.3 He was also the owner of a grand mansion at Mount Sophia called Adis Lodge.4 The road leading to the mansion was named Adis Road.5
Early life
Son of a Calcutta merchant, Adis received his education at St Thomas’s School in Howrah.6 He began his legal apprenticeship with Messrs Templeton & Carapiet, attorneys-at-law and notaries public of Calcutta, but left after two years to establish his own exchange and stockbroking business in 1876.7 His business was a success despite initial struggles. However he lost some Rs 300,000 during a crisis in Calcutta. Undeterred, Adis left for Hong Kong in 1888 to establish a similar enterprise. History repeated itself when, after a period of success, his business crashed. With the little that he had, Adis came to Singapore in June 1893 to commence business as a stock broker.8 This time, his efforts paid off and he amassed great wealth from trading stocks and selling real estate.9
Business interests and properties
Adis bought and owned Hotel de L’Europe, also known as Grand Hotel de L’Europe.10 It was built in 1902 and furnished at a cost of S$1 million.11 The land where the Supreme Court now stands was previously owned by Adis.12
Adis was also known for building an imposing family mansion, the Adis Lodge, atop Mount Sophia in 1907.13 Five years after Adis Lodge was completed, it was sold to millionaire and philanthropist Eu Tong Sen.14
Adis also built stables behind the old race course to house other owners’ horses during racing seasons. He named the country road leading to the stables “Belilious”.15
Personal interests
Adis was the first Jew to be made Master of the Lodge of St Andrew’s in the Far East, in the order of the Free Masons. He was also a motorcar enthusiast. In 1918, for the Armistice Day Parade, he transformed one of his cars into a “Dove of Peace”.16 Adis married Leah Judah, daughter of A. N. E. Judah, a merchant from Calcutta, on 22 December 1895. Leah Judah was also the grand-daughter of E. R. Belilios (C. M. G.) of Hong Kong.17
Known as a man who enjoyed life to the fullest, Adis travelled widely and earned the friendship and respect of many.18
Family
Wife: Leah Judah.19
Daughter: Gracia Adis.20
Author
Joshua Chia Yeong Jia
References
1. Bieder, J. (2007). The Jews of Singapore. Singapore: Suntree Media, p. 60. (Call no.: RSING 959.57004924 BIE-[HIS]); Wright, A., & Cartwright, H. A. (Eds.). (1908). Twentieth century impressions of British Malaya: Its history, people, commerce, industries, and resources. London: Lloyd’s Greater Pub. Co, p. 628. (Call no.: RCLOS 959.51033 TWE)
2. Page 7 advertisements column 2: In the estate of Nissim Nissim Adis, deceased. (1928, January 23). The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser (1884–1942), p. 7. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
3. Twentieth century impressions of British Malaya: Its history, people, commerce, industries, and resources. London: Lloyd’s Greater Pub. Co, p. 628. (Call no.: RCLOS 959.51033 TWE)
4. Bieder, J. (2007). The Jews of Singapore. Singapore: Suntree Media, p. 60. (Call no.: RSING 959.57004924 BIE-[HIS])
5. Savage, V. R., & Yeoh, B. S. A. (2013). Singapore street names: A study of toponymics. Singapore: Marshall Cavendish Editions, p. 12. (Call no.: RSING 915.9570014 SAV-[TRA])
6. Wright, A., & Cartwright, H. A. (Eds.). (1908). Twentieth century impressions of British Malaya: Its history, people, commerce, industries, and resources. London: Lloyd’s Greater Pub. Co, p. 628. (Call no.: RCLOS 959.51033 TWE)
7. Nathan, E. (1986). The history of Jews in Singapore, 1830–1945. Singapore: Herbilu Editorial & Marketing Services, p. 22. (Call no.: RSING 301.45192405 NAT); Wright, A., & Cartwright, H. A. (Eds.). (1908). Twentieth century impressions of British Malaya: Its history, people, commerce, industries, and resources. London: Lloyd’s Greater Pub. Co, p. 628. (Call no.: RCLOS 959.51033 TWE)
8. Wright, A., & Cartwright, H. A. (Eds.). (1908). Twentieth century impressions of British Malaya: Its history, people, commerce, industries, and resources. London: Lloyd’s Greater Pub. Co, p. 631. (Call no.: RCLOS 959.51033 TWE)
9. Bieder, J. (2007). The Jews of Singapore. Singapore: Suntree Media, p. 60. (Call no.: RSING 959.57004924 BIE-[HIS])
10. Bieder, J. (2007). The Jews of Singapore. Singapore: Suntree Media, p. 60. (Call no.: RSING 959.57004924 BIE-[HIS])
11. Bailey, J. P. (1989, September 1). Map shows former name of Cockpit. The Straits Times, p. 34. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
12. Nathan, E. (1986). The history of Jews in Singapore, 1830–1945. Singapore: Herbilu Editorial & Marketing Services, pp. 22–23. (Call no.: RSING 301.45192405 NAT)
13. Nathan, E. (1986). The history of Jews in Singapore, 1830–1945. Singapore: Herbilu Editorial & Marketing Services, pp. 22–23. (Call no.: RSING 301.45192405 NAT)
14. Bieder, J. (2007). The Jews of Singapore. Singapore: Suntree Media, p. 60. (Call no.: RSING 959.57004924 BIE-[HIS]); Wright, A., & Cartwright, H. A. (Eds.). (1908). Twentieth century impressions of British Malaya: Its history, people, commerce, industries, and resources. London: Lloyd’s Greater Pub. Co, p. 631. (Call no.: RCLOS 959.51033 TWE); Lee, K. L. (1988). The Singapore house 1819–1942. Singapore: Times Editions, p. 187. (Call no.: RSING 728.095957 LEE)
15. Nathan, E. (1986). The history of Jews in Singapore, 1830–1945. Singapore: Herbilu Editorial & Marketing Services, pp. 22–23. (Call no.: RSING 301.45192405 NAT)
16. Nathan, E. (1986). The history of Jews in Singapore, 1830–1945. Singapore: Herbilu Editorial & Marketing Services, pp. 22–23. (Call no.: RSING 301.45192405 NAT)
17. Death of Mr E.R.Belilios. (1905, November 12). The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser (1884-1942), p. 5. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
18. Nathan, E. (1986). The history of Jews in Singapore, 1830–1945. Singapore: Herbilu Editorial & Marketing Services, p. 23. (Call no.: RSING 301.45192405 NAT)
19. Nathan, E. (1986). The history of Jews in Singapore, 1830–1945. Singapore: Herbilu Editorial & Marketing Services, p. 22. (Call no.: RSING 301.45192405 NAT)
20. Nathan, E. (1986). The history of Jews in Singapore, 1830–1945. Singapore: Herbilu Editorial & Marketing Services, p. 23. (Call no.: RSING 301.45192405 NAT)
The information in this article is valid as at 7 July 2016 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.
The information on this page and any images that appear here may be used for private research and study purposes only. They may not be copied, altered or amended in any way without first gaining the permission of the copyright holder.
Beaulieu House is located at 117 Beaulieu Road, within the grounds of what is now Sembawang Park. Built sometime in the 1910s, the house was believed to have been owned by a Jewish family by the name of David, before the building and the surrounding land were acquired by the...
The Singapore Swimming Club (SSC) was established in 1894 at Tanjong Rhu by a group of Europeans. In 1994, the club celebrated its 100th anniversary with the opening of a museum dedicated to its history and the release of a commemorative book. With a huge membership, it continues to concentrate...
Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC) was established on 1 September 1972 as a statutory board under the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) to oversee the development, management and promotion of Sentosa island (previously known as Pulau Blakang Mati) into a tourist destination. Over the years, the SDC has transformed Sentosa...
Kallang-Paya Lebar Expressway (KPE), Singapore's ninth expressway, was fully opened to traffic on 20 September 2008. Stretching 12 km from East Coast Parkway (ECP) to Tampines Expressway (TPE), it includes a 9-kilometre-long tunnel, which was the longest underground road in Southeast Asia when it was completed in 2008. Built to...
Public housing in Singapore may be said to have begun with the formal establishment of the Singapore Improvement Trust (SIT) in 1927 by the colonial government to provide low-cost housing in addition to improvement works. The Housing and Development Board (HDB) replaced SIT as the national housing authority in 1960...
The Bedok planning area – as delineated in 1994 by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) – is bounded by Siglap Canal, Marine Parade Road, Still Road, Jalan Eunos, Eunos Link and Airport Road to the west, the Paya Lebar Airport boundary to the north and the Bedok Canal to the...
Alkaff Mansion is a 19th century colonial bungalow located on a hill at 10 Telok Blangah Green. Built in 1918 by a member of the prominent Alkaff family as a weekend house, it became known for hosting high society parties in the 1930s. The mansion once served as...
The Beach Road Police Station was built by the colonial government in the early 1930s. Part of the expansion plans of the local police force during that period, the station was one of many built in the city area and it had remained operational until 2001. The colonial-style building was...
Anderson Bridge straddles the mouth of the Singapore River and connects Empress Place with Collyer Quay. It was named after John Anderson, governor of the Straits Settlements and high commissioner for the Federated Malay States (1904–11), who officially opened the bridge on 12 March 1910....
Katong Park Hotel, one of Singapore's oldest hotels, was located at 46 Meyer Road. Owned by several people since it was built in 1953, the hotel was previously known by three other names: Embassy Hotel, Hotel Ambassador and Duke Hotel. It was renamed Katong Park Hotel in 1992 before it...