Nissim Nissim Adis

Singapore Infopedia

Nissim Nissim Adis

Nissim Nissim Adis (b. 17 May 1857, Howrah, India - d. ?) was a well-known Jewish businessman who was the proprietor of Hotel de l’Europe and the head of Adis & Co., a stock brokerage firm. He was also the owner of a grand mansion at Mount Sophia called Adis Lodge. The road leading to the mansion was named Adis Road.

Early Life

Son of a Calcutta merchant, Adis received his education at St. Thomas’s School in Howrah. He began his legal apprenticeship with Messrs Templeton & Carapiet, attorneys-at-law and notaries public, but left after two years to set up a business in stock brokerage in 1876. Despite some initial struggles, success came. However, he was to lose some Rs 300,000 during a crisis in Calcutta. Undeterred, Adis left for Hong Kong in 1888 to establish another stock brokerage business. History was to repeat itself. After a period of success, his business crashed. With the little that he had, Adis came to Singapore in June 1893 to restart his business. This time, his efforts paid off and Adis amassed great wealth from stock brokerage and real estate.

Business Interests and Properties

Adis later became the proprietor of the Grand Hotel de l’Europe, which was built and furnished at a cost of a million dollars. The Grand Hotel de l’Europe and the Raffles Hotel were two of the grandest hotels in Singapore at that time. Next to the Hotel de l’Europe was the Adis building, a shopping complex, which he also owned.

Adis was also known for his palatial residence, the Adis Lodge, which was completed at a cost of $300,000 on Mount Sofia in 1907. The house was eventually sold to millionaire and philanthropist Eu Tong Sen, in 1912. The road leading to the lodge was named Adis Road.

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 Freemasons. He was also a motorcar enthusiast and was a participant of one of the earliest car rallies in Singapore. 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.

Adis was known as a man who enjoyed life to the fullest. He traveled widely and earned the friendship and respect of many.

Family

Wife: Leah Judah

Daughter: Gracia Adis

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Author

Joshua Chia Yeong Jia

2006

References

Bieder, J. (2007). The Jews of Singapore (pp. 60-61). Singapore: Suntree Media.

(Call no.: RSING 959.57004924 BIE)

Lee, K. L. (1988). The Singapore house 1819-1942 (pp. 67, 149, 186-187, 209). Singapore: Times Editions.

(Call no.: RSING 728.095957 LEE)

Nathan, E. (1986). The history of Jews in Singapore, 1830-1945 (pp. 22-23). Singapore: Herbilu Editorial & Marketing Services.

(Call no.: RSING 301.45192405 NAT)

Savage, V. R., & Yeoh, B. S. A. (2004). Toponymics: A study of Singapore street names (p. 32). Singapore: Eastern Universities Press.

(Call no.: RSING 915.9570014 SAV)

Wright, A., & Cartwright, H. A. (Eds.). (1908). Twentieth century impressions of British Malaya: Its history, people, commerce, industries, and resources (pp. 628, 631) [Microfilm: NL 16084]. London: Lloyd’s Greater Pub. Co.

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See also:

Grand Hotel de l’Europe