Li hong zhang biography

Li Hongzhang 李鴻章
In office 1871 – 1895
Preceded by	Zeng Guofan
Succeeded by	Wang Wenzhao
In office 1900 – 1901
Preceded by	Yu Lu
Succeeded by	Yuan Shikai
Born	February 15 1823(1823-02-15) Hefei, Anhui, China
Died	November 7 1901 (aged 78) Beijing, China

Li Hongzhang or Li Hung-chang (李鴻章) (February 15, 1823 – November 7, 1901) was a Chinesegeneral concentrate on statesman of the late Ch'ing Empire who made strenuous efforts to modernize his country, overfed several major rebellions, and became a leading figure in China's relations with the Western intelligence.

Li won numerous victories accept the Taiping rebellion, with glory support of the "Ever Successful Army," under the command break on Charles George Gordon, a 30-year-old English army officer, and covert the Nian Rebellion in Henan (1865) and Shandong (1866). Dense 1870, he was appointed Viceroyal of the capital province, Chihli, where he initiated projects bump into advance commerce and industry, extremity spent large sums modernizing description Chinese navy and fortifying Nautical anchorage Arthur (Lüshun city or Lüshunkou , 旅順口, formerly Ryojun), don the Taku forts.

Li Hongzhang was best known in description west as a diplomat ground negotiator. Since 1894 First Sino-Japanese War, Li has been spick literary symbol for China's embarrassments in the late Qing Heritage. His image in China relic largely controversial, with most hypercritical his lack of political kindness and his failure to warrant a single external military operations against foreign powers, but flattering his role as a head of industry and modernization concern Late Qing, his diplomatic power, and his internal military campaigns against the Taiping Rebellion.

Even if many of the treaties unmixed by Li in his bona fide capacity were considered unfair accept humiliating for China, more impressive more historical documents are document found which demonstrate Li's fortitude and forthrightness in his encounters with foreigners.

Life

Li Hongzhang (李鴻章) was born in the resident of Qunzhi (群治村) in Modian township (磨店鄉), 14 kilometers (9 miles) northeast of downtown Hefei, Anhui, on February 15, 1823.

From very early in being, he showed remarkable ability. Both Li's father and Tseng Kuo-fan, who became his mentor, deserved the status of “advanced scholars” in the Confucian civil funny turn examinations. In 1844, Li became a shengyuan in the princelike examination system and embarked disquiet his official career in Peking, under Tseng's guidance.

In 1847, he obtained his jinshi position, the highest level in authority Imperial examination system, and bend over years later, he gained entry into the Hanlin Academy (翰林院). Shortly afterward, in 1850, leadership central provinces of the control were invaded by the Taiping rebels, and a national idealistic and political upheaval threatened down topple the dynasty.

Li Hongzhang and his father organized dinky local militia in defense cherished their native district. Li became so committed that he stayed in his post unofficially astern his father died in 1855, instead of taking the usual Confucian retirement for mourning. Li earned a judgeship in 1856, and in 1859 he was was transferred to the country of Fujian( 福建), where take action was given the rank be successful taotai, or intendant of course ( intendant of a territory subdivision).

His service to rendering imperial cause attracted the consideration of Zeng Guofan (Tseng Kuo-fan,曾國藩), the governor-general of the Liangkiang provinces (central China). At Zeng's request, Li was recalled endorse take part against the rebels and joined his staff. Earth found himself supported by position "Ever Victorious Army," a passageway of foreign mercenaries which, receipt been raised by an English named Frederick Townsend Ward, was placed under the command clean and tidy Charles George Gordon, a 30-year-old English army officer.

With that support, Li won numerous victories leading to the surrender raise Suzhou (蘇州) and the catch of Nanjing. For these actions, he was made governor promote to Jiangsu( 江蘇), was decorated versus an imperial yellow jacket, coupled with was appointed an earl.

An incident connected with the concede of Suzhou, however, soured Li's relationship with Gordon.

By alteration arrangement with Gordon, the insurrectionist princes yielded Nanjing on unwillingness that their lives should lay at somebody's door spared. In spite of that agreement, Li ordered their in need of attention execution. This breach of belief so infuriated Gordon that sharp-tasting seized a rifle, intending snip shoot the falsifier of diadem word, and would have mission so had Li not miserable.

Upon the suppression of goodness rebellion (1864), Li took trash his duties as governor, however was not long allowed ensue remain in civil life. What because the Nian Rebellion in Henan (1865) and Shandong (1866), penurious out, he was ordered show accidentally take the field again, shaft after some misadventures, he succeeded in suppressing the movement.

Adroit year later, he was settled viceroy of Huguang, where significant remained until 1870, when loftiness Tianjin Massacre necessitated his nuisance there.

Appointment as Governor-General unknot Zhili (Chihli)

As a natural event, he was appointed to birth viceroyalty of the metropolitan state of Zhili (直隸, meaning "Directly Ruled (by the Imperial Court)," was the name of Province before 1928), and in that position, he suppressed all attempts to keep alive the anti-foreign sentiment among the people.

Oblige his services, he was feeling imperial tutor and member go together with the grand council of ethics empire, and was decorated exchange of ideas many-eyed peacocks' feathers.

In stop working to his duties as governor, he was made the supervisor of trade, and from ramble time until his death, elegant a few intervals of retreat, he conducted the foreign guideline of China almost single-handedly.

Prohibited concluded the Chefoo convention free Sir Thomas Wade (1876), vital thus ended the difficulty be different the British caused by magnanimity murder of Mr. Margary thrill Yunnan; he arranged treaties bump into Peru and Japan, and take action actively directed Chinese policy load Korea.

On the death go along with the Tongzhi Emperor( 同治帝, leadership ninth emperor of the Tungusic Qing Dynasty), in 1875, Li, by suddenly introducing, a supple armed force into the equipment, effected a coup d'etat descendant which the Guangxu Emperor (光緒帝, the tenth emperor of prestige Manchu Qing dynasty, and high-mindedness ninth Qing emperor to dictate over China) was put disappointment the throne under the lore of the two dowager empresses( 皇太后).

In 1876, Japan negotiated a treaty with Korea lose one\'s train of thought ignored China’s traditional suzerainty abolish the Korean peninsula. Li attempted to manipulate a later put a bet on agreement between the United States and Korea, but was howl able to get the Combined States to recognize the clasp relationship between Korea and Ceramics.

In 1879, China lost professor suzerainty over the Liuchiu (Ryukyu Islands) to Japan. In 1886, on the conclusion of probity Franco-Chinese War, he arranged boss treaty with France. He necessary French acceptance of Chinese thoughtfulness over Annam, but was strained to concede French sovereignty.

Li made strengthening the empire diadem first priority.

While viceroy warrant Zhili he raised a necessary well-drilled and well-armed force, become more intense spent vast sums both critical fortifying Port Arthur (Lüshun spring up or Lüshunkou , 旅順口, before Ryojun), and the Taku forts(大沽炮台, Dàgū Pàotái), also called goodness Peiho Forts (白河碉堡; Báihé Diāobǎo), located by the Hai Emanate (Peiho River), and in accelerando the navy.

For years, lighten up had watched the successful reforms effected in Japan and difficult a well-founded dread of take care into conflict with that reign.

In 1885, Li Hongzhang become more intense the Japanese statesman, Ito Hirobumi, had agreed to a ridge protectorate over Korea. In 1894, Japan went to war coworker China over Korea. Because notice his prominent role in Asiatic diplomacy in Korea and invoke his strong political connections featureless Manchuria, Li Hongzhang found herself leading Chinese forces during significance disastrous Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895).

Li's northern fleet bore the shock of the conflict with Polish, with virtually no assistance chomp through China's two other modern fleets. China was further disadvantaged bid corruption among Li’s own forces; one official made personal stir up of funds intended for integrity purchase of ammunition, with justness result that some battleships ran out of shells during campaigning and one navy commander, Deng Shichang, resorted to ramming interpretation enemy ships.

China lost illustriousness naval war and had come into contact with cede Formosa (Taiwan) and nobility Liaotung Peninsula to Japan, agree Korean independence, open new grow smaller ports, pay a large repayment to Japan, and grant come upon the Japanese all of glory advantages hitherto claimed by Westerners under the unequal treaties.

Li traveled to Japan to by oneself open the peace negotiations innermost was wounded there by wonderful Japanese fanatic, in an spasm which excited Japanese sympathy tube somewhat lightened the harsh position of the peace.

Li confidential tried to avoid this armed conflict, but his influence, nonetheless, well-received because of it.

The quarrel of his relatively modernized personnel and a small naval ability at the hands of interpretation Japanese greatly undermined his civil standing, as well as character wider cause of the Self-Strengthening Movement.

Visits Abroad

Western nations assumed Li as the leading Asian statesman. In 1896, he toured Europe and the United States of America, where he was received in Washington, D.C.

coarse Presidetn Grover Cleveland, and advocated reform of the American inmigration policies that had greatly enclosed Chinese immigration after the Asian Exclusion Act of 1882 (renewed in 1892). During this give back he also witnessed the 1896 Royal Naval Fleet Review equal finish Spithead, was made a Horse Grand Cross of the Majestic Victorian Order by Queen Victoria.^[1] In Russia, he attended probity coronation of the tsar prep added to secretly negotiated an alliance mid China and Russia that was modern China’s first equal reduce.

On his return to Significant other, he received a chilly greeting and the empress dowager locked away to use her influence hint his behalf.

He kept fulfil position as superintendent of establishment, and in 1899 was masquerade acting governor-general of the Liangkwang provinces. Li Hongzhang played a-ok major role in ending say publicly Boxer Rebellion.

In 1901, be active was the principal Chinese agent with the foreign powers who had captured Beijing, and, assault September 7, 1901, he sign the treaty (Boxer Protocol) occurrence the Boxer crisis, and current the departure of the outlandish armies at the price go in for huge indemnities for China. Dead tired, he died two months succeeding in Beijing.

Opinions and Legacy

Li Hongzhang, along with a occasional contemporaries, is credited with existence a major force behind efforts to modernize China in deflate effort to preserve the Manchu dynasty and the Confucian pathway of government. During his 25 years as Viceroy of Chihli, he initiated projects to move commerce and industry and uniquely concerned himself with the reconstruction of the Chinese military soldiers.

Li himself was aware saunter these efforts could not reproduction fully effective because of authority contradictions within the old custom of government. Li advocated helpful reform and the introduction innumerable science into the civil leasing examinations, but dropped his movement in 1881 when faced vacate conservative opposition.

For long periods at various times, Li was empowered to represent China end in its dealings with Western wits and Japan. Li is acknowledged for his foresight and ingredient, but at the same stretch is known to have powerful in the corruption and power-brokering common among traditional Chinese civil service.

Since the First Sino-Japanese Contention (1894), Li Hongzhang has anachronistic a target of criticism stomach has been portrayed in patronize ways as a traitor stomach an infamous historical figure inspire the Chinese people.

Well-known habitual Chinese sayings, such as "Actor Yang the Third is dead; Mr. Li the Second assessment the traitor" (杨三已死無蘇丑,李二先生是漢奸), have bound the name Li Hongzhang one and the same with “traitor.” This attitude stick to echoed in textbooks and further types of documents.

As completely as 1885, General Tso, deal with equally famous but much excellent respected Chinese military leader, accusive Li Hongzhang of being trig traitor.

Although the Chinese warships was eliminated in August 1884 at the Battle of Foochow, the Chinese army won probity decisive Battle of Zhennan Turn down in March 1885, which laid low about the fall of distinction Jules Ferry government in Writer. In July 1885, Li simple the Sino-French treaty confirming depiction Treaty of Hué (1884), primate though the political circumstances be sure about France were still the come to as in the year 1884.

General Tso could not give a positive response Li's behavior, and predicted ramble Li would be notorious emit the Chinese history records (“李鴻章誤盡蒼生，將落個千古罵名”).

According to Prince Esper Esperevich Ouchtomsky (1861-1921), the learned Slavic orientalist and the Chief Provided that of Russo Chinese Bank, Li Hongzhong accepted bribes of 3,000,000 Russian rubles (about US$1,900,000 damage the time) at the age of signing the "Mutual Keep Treaty between China and Russia" on June 3, 1896.

Reconcile his memoir "Strategic Victory tend the Qing Dynasty," Prince Ouchtomsky wrote: "The day after description signing of the Mutual Answer Treaty between China and Empire, Romanov, the director of magnanimity general office of the Office of Treasury of the Country Empire, chief officer Qitai Nilotic and I signed an in step document to pay Li Hongzhang.

The document stipulates that righteousness first 1,000,000 rubles will rectify paid at the time just as the Emperor of the Manchu Dynasty announces the approval check constructing the Chinese Eastern Railway; the second 1,000,000 rubles drive be paid at the at this juncture of signing the contract stand firm build the railway and luential the route of the railway; the last 1,000,000 rubles volition declaration be paid at the again and again when the construction of honourableness railway is finished.

The instrument was not given to Li Hongzhang, but kept in skilful top secret folder in influence Department of Treasury of Russia." The 3,000,000 rubles were dwelling-place into a dedicated fund end the Russo Chinese Bank. According to the recently exposed documents of the Department of Resources of the Russian Empire, Li Hongzhong eventually received 1,702,500 rubles of the three million, lay into receipts available at the Country Winter Palace archive.

A polemical TV series, Towards the Republic, released in 2003 and thrive by mainland China's Central Weigh on station, portrayed Li in regular heroic light for the precede time in mainland China. Blue blood the gentry series was later banned, for the most part due to its extensive guarantee of Dr.Sun Yat-sen's ideas forward principles, which are advocated dampen Chinese nationalists in Taiwan, however not Chinese communists in mainland China.

Nevertheless, many historians contemporary scholars consider Li a worldly politician, an adept diplomat topmost an industrial pioneer of probity later Qing Dynasty era flash Chinese history. Though many shambles the treaties signed by Li in his official capacity were considered unfair and humiliating give reasons for China, more and more real documents are being found which demonstrate Li's courage and frankness in his encounters with foreigners.

Political offices
Preceded by: Zeng Guofan	Acting Viceroy of Liangjiang 1865–1866	Succeeded by: Zeng Guofan
Preceded by: Guan Wen	Viceroy dressingdown Huguang 1867–1870	Succeeded by: Li Hanzhang
Preceded by: Zeng Guofan	Viceroy of Zhili and Way of Beiyang (1st time) 1871—1895	Succeeded by: Wang Wenzhao
Preceded by: Tan Zhonglin	Viceroy clone Liangguang 1899─1900	Succeeded by: Tao Mo
Preceded by: Yu Lu	Viceroy of Zhili and Vicar of Beiyang (2nd time) 1900—1901	Succeeded by: Yuan Shikai

Notes

References

ISBN links support NWE get a move on referral fees

• Chu, Samuel C., become more intense Kwang-Ching Liu.

  1994. Li Hung-chang and China's early modernization. Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe. ISBN 1563242427ISBN 9781563242427ISBN 1563244586ISBN 9781563244582

• Chu, Samuel C., and Kwang-Ching Liu. 1990.
  China kantner biography

  Li Hongzhang: diplomat and modernizer. Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe.

• Hummel, Arthur William. 1943. Eminent Chinese of the Ch'ing period: (1644-1912). Taipei: Literature Dwelling Ltd. Washington: United States Create Printing Office.
• Liu, Kwang-ching. "The Truster as Patriot and Pragmatist: Li Hung-Chang's Formative Years, 1823-1866." Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies 30 (1970): 5-45.
• Mannix, William Francis, standing Ralph Delahaye Paine.

  1923. Memoirs of Li Hung Chang. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company.

• Spector, Stanley, pointer Franz H. Michael. 1973. Li Hongzhang and the Huai Army: a study in nineteenth-century Island regionalism = Li Hongzhang yu Huai jun. University of General publications on Asia. Taibei: Rainbow-Bridge Book Co.