Lee Hoe Thye 
Biography of Lee Hoe Thye
Lee Hoe Thye, Engineering and Naval Architecture Class 1913–1914
Lee Hoe Thye studied Engineering at the University for two years from 1911 to 1913.
Thye was born on 18 March 1888 in Penang, the Straits Settlement, modern day Malaysia, son of Yewcheong Thye, a mining engineer. Educated at the Penang Free School and at Aberdeen Grammar School, Thye undertook a five-year apprenticeship in 1906 with William McKinnon and Company Ltd, Aberdeen while also attending Robert Gordon’s Technical College.
In 1911, Thye enrolled at the University of Glasgow, aged 23, where he took classes in Mathematics for Engineers, Natural Philosophy, Physical Lab and Systematic Chemistry for Engineering, Mining and Naval Architecture students. In his second year, 1913-14, he took several Engineering classes: Materials for Construction, Prime Movers, Engineering Drawing and Design, Engineering Laboratory, Mathematics for Engineering students, and Electricity, pure and applied. Thye continued his studies for a further year at the University of Edinburgh, and in 1914 he was employed as a draughtsman with Messrs. Glenfield and Kennedy Ltd, Kilmarnock.
In October 1915, Thye returned to the Federated Malay States, where he was a supervising engineer to Chan Sow Lin and Co, Kuala Lumpur.
Thye was a member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in 1910, and an Associate Member in 1916. He died in December 1920.
Sources
Printed Materials
- Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, vol. 101, 1921
Archival Materials
- ACCN173/11/7/1a Engineering and Naval Architecture Class Photograph 1913–14
- R8/5/32/8 Matriculation Slip 1911-1912 Men T - Y
- R8/5/33/8 Matriculation Slip 1912-1913 Men T - Y
Summary
Lee Hoe Thye
Born 18 March 1888.
Died 1920.
GU Degree: Science and Engineering, 1911-1913;
University Link: Student
Occupation categories: engineers, mechanical
English snippet: First Malaysian student of the University of Glasgow Record last updated: 3rd Feb 2014
Country Associations
Malaysia, Penang
Place of Birth
Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur
Place of Death
Scotland, Aberdeen
University Connections
University Roles
- Student
