Name Agnes Joaquim | ||
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Full Name Ashkhen Hovakimian | ||
Ashkhen Hovakimian (Agnes Joaquim) (b. 7 April 1854, Singapore - d. 2 July 1899, Singapore) was a Singaporean woman of Armenian descent who bred the world's first cultivated orchid hybrid, Vanda 'Miss Joaquim'. Joaquim was inducted in the Singapore Women's Hall of Fame in 2015. The Armenian names are anglicised in various ways. Thus Agnes is sometimes spelt Ashkhen or Ashghen and her surname Hovakimian, Joachim or Joakim.
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Early life
Hovakimian was the eldest daughter and second child of Parsick (Basil) Joaquim, an Armenian merchant and commercial agent, and Urelia Joaquim. Agnes was an avid gardener as her mother was, specialising in breeding orchids. Besides gardening, she was also an active member of the Armenian Church and a skilled embroiderer.
Singapore's National Flower
Agnes Joaquim won prizes at annual flower shows and famously won the prize for the rarest orchid at the 1899 annual flower show. The first prize was for a hybrid that was named after her, Vanda 'Miss Joaquim'. However, already suffering from cancer then, she died soon after receiving this prize.
In 1947, Vanda 'Miss Joaquim' was chosen as the most fitting emblem for the nascent Progressive Party. In 1957 it was chosen as the crest for the Malayan Orchid Society. But in April 1981, came the ultimate accolade. From a field of forty contenders, Vanda Miss Joaquim was selected as the national flower of Singapore.
Family
Agnes Joaquim's siblings were well known in Singapore. Narcis Street was named after her eldest brother Nerses (Narcis, born 2 December 1852). Her brothers, Joe (Joaquim, born 1 April 1856), Seth (born 11 September 1866) and Robert were well-known barristers. Joe was a founder of Braddel Brothers, a legal company. Another brother, Arathoon (b. 2 July 1864) was the Deputy Registrar of the Hackney Carriages Department.
Josephine, Agnes Joaquim's grandniece, also has an orchid named after her, Vanda 'Josephine' (also known as Vanda Miss Joaquim 'Josephine').
Hovakimian's maternal grandfather, Isaiah Zachariah, was one of the first members of the Singapore Chamber of Commerce.
Her great great great great Grandson, Tom Rapson (1993-present), has been recently known for his roles at British Airways and Samsung.