Manasseh Meyer

Sir Manasseh Meyer (1843–1930) was a British businessman and philanthropist who was a benefactor to the Jewish community in Singapore.

Born in Baghdad and educated in Calcutta, Manasseh Meyer came to Singapore in 1861 and continued his English education in St Joseph's Institution. In 1864, he returned to Calcutta to work with his uncle in business as well as to learn Hebrew and Arabic. He returned to Singapore in 1873 and founded his own import-export business.

He did very well in business and invested his money in property. He bought Adelphi Hotel in Coleman Street and Seaview Hotel in Katong, giving his name to the road on which it stands — Meyer Road.

Meyer gave generously to charity within and without his community. He started the Manasseh Meyer Trust that benefited educational institutions. He was one of the major donors to Raffles College, one of the two institutions of tertiary learning that subsequently formed the University of Malaya. He also contributed towards the war effort from 1915 to 1919.

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