Hing Lew

LEW Hing (1858-1934)

Lew Hing Building (858-870 Clay Street, San Francisco)

Lew Hing was born in Guangzhou and came to California in 1871. He first began to work in a cannery factory, and went from working to owning the factory in just a few years. He also established and became president of one of West Oakland's largest plants, the Pacific Coast Canning Company. Then Lew Hing became president of the Canton Bank, and vice president and general manager of the China Mail Steamship Company. He faced and outlived many controversies in his business ventures before retirement.

(Portrait by Kenneth Acala, SFSU 2014)