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Gao Lingwei

Gao Lingwei
高凌霨
Kao Lin-wei Colour.jpg
President of the Republic of China (Acting)
In office
14 June 1923 – 10 October 1923
Preceded by Li Yuanhong
Succeeded by Cao Kun
Personal details
Born (1870-09-12)September 12, 1870
Tianjin, China
Died March 4, 1940(1940-03-04) (aged 69)
Beijing, China
Nationality Republic of China
Political party Non-partisan

Gao Lingwei (Chinese: 高凌霨; pinyin: Gāo Língwèi; Wade–Giles: Kao Ling-wei;Hepburn: Kō Ryōi); (1870–1940) was a Chinese politician during the late Qing dynasty and the early Republic of China.

A Tianjin native, he was appointed to Hubei where he held many offices relating to finance and education including a stint as superintendent of the provincial military academy. There he became a protégé of Zhang Zhidong in China's modernization effort and was appointed governor of Hunan. After the Xinhai Revolution, he returned to Tianjin and subsequently became minister in many Warlord era cabinets. In 1923, he became the Acting President while Cao Kun was "campaigning" for the presidency by bribing the National Assembly. He served briefly as Cao's first premier.

Gao Lingwei was born in Tianjin in 1868. He successfully passed the Imperial examinations and was afterwards assigned to the province of Hubei for official appointment. He was the sub-director of the High School of the Chin Hsin College, and superintendent of the Military Academy in Hubei. Later he became the director of the Hubei Government Mint. While holding the position of Viceroy of Hunan and Hubei, Zhang Zhidong ordered the establishment of an arsenal, industrial plants and copper and silver mints, and also encouraged the establishment of schools in his territory. Gao Lingwei participated in all these activities to the satisfaction of the Great Viceroy. In 1906 he was promoted to be the Commissioner of Education in Hubei. It was at a time when the Central Government tried to concentrate power in Beijing and local finances were consequently stringent and funds for education became very scant. Despite such circumstances Gao Lingwei found the necessary funds was able to increase the number of schools in that province by tenfold in a few months. In 1909 Gao Lingwei was promoted to be the Provincial Treasurer, a very high provincial appointment at that time. After serving in that important capacity for some time, one of his parents died, and according to the ancient custom, he had to retire from official duties for three years.


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