Sex
Male
Status
Deceased
He was a dentist in Hong Kong. His sign is visible on the right of this photo:
The Chinese characters on his sign say "American Dentist". He had graduated from the University of Pennsylvania (source: The historical development of dentistry in Hong Kong)
Comments
Obituary
His Obituary appeared on page 7 of the Hong Kong Daily Press, 1935-02-19 (thanks to Moddsey for the link):
DR. M. H. CHAUN PASSES AWAY
Prominent Pioneer Chinese Dentist
His many friends will regret to learn of the death of Dr. Moon Hung Chaun at his residence at No. 9 Belfran Road, yesterday at 2 50 p.m. at the age of 68 years after a brief illness. He is survived by his wife, one son Dr. K. W. Chaun and four daughters, May Ching (Mrs Chan Hing Wah), Shui Ching, Oi Ching and Wai Ching.
The late Dr. Chaun led a most romantic life, being in every sense of the word, a self-made man. Bom in the country at Hoi Ping, Kwong Tung Province, he lost his father at the age of four. Undaunted and full of courage, he joined a party of his country men and went to the United States at the age of 13. Instead of pursuing the usual vocation as usually the rule, he aspired for higher education. Going through the usual public schools, he entered the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, in the year 1896, graduating in 1899 with the degree of Doctor Of Dental Surgery, thus becoming the first Chinese to hold that distinction. After practising in New York for a few years he returned to Hong Kong in 1901 and started the practice of dentistry in which he commanded a large clientele both among the European and Chinese community. He relinquished his practice two years ago being succeeded by his son. Dr. K. W. Chaun.
In 1902 the late Dr. Chaun married Lin-Oi, the eighth daughter of the late Dr and Mrs. Ng Lin Took of Hong Kong, having by this marriage eleven children (six sons and 5 daughters), of whom only the aforementioned survived him. Dr. Chaun belonged very much to the old school, being retiring to an extreme degree and generous to his fellow men. Only those that he has helped in his practice can testify to the fulfilment of his charitable acts.
The funeral will take place on Wednesday morning the 20tth inst. the cortege leaving his residence at 10 a.m. and a service will be held at the Church at the Chinese Christian Cemetery at Pokfulum at 12 noon.
From Eric Peter Ho's book Tracing my children's lineage page 238
He went to San Francisco from his native Village in his teens in search of his father who had gone there when he was barely two. He failed to find him, but at eighteen he made his way to New York and was eventually admitted to the dental school of the University of Pennsylvania graduating in 1899. On his week-long journey east across the United States he met an American Boy who on hearing his name responded "Chau ... The same as chow-chow, time for chow? This got under his skin and thereafter he spelled his surname Chaun !
Chinese name
The Chinese family name seems to be 周, not 張. If you look closely at the sign, it is kind of hard to make out a shape that resembles 張, as recorded in the title right now.
There is this internet page which also says his name is 周夢熊. http://hkmd1841-1941.blogspot.hk/2013/09/dr-chaun-moon-hung-1901.html
Please change the Chinese name.
breskvar
Re: M. H. Chaun
Confirmation. According to the Dental Register in HKGRO,the Chinese name recorded for Chaun Moon-Hung is 熊 夢 周.
Thanks for the correction, I
Thanks for the correction, I've changed the Chinese characters from 張夢熊 to 周夢熊.
Regards, David