Li Yuanhong | |
---|---|
黎元洪 | |
President of the Republic of China | |
In office 7 June 1916 – 1 July 1917 |
|
Vice President | Feng Guozhang |
Preceded by | Yuan Shikai |
Succeeded by | Restoration of Qing Empire |
In office 12 July 1917 – 17 July 1917 |
|
Preceded by | Restoration of Qing Empire |
Succeeded by | Feng Guozhang |
In office 11 June 1922 – 13 June 1923 |
|
Preceded by | Zhou Ziqi |
Succeeded by | Gao Lingwei |
Provisional Vice President of the Republic of China | |
In office 1 January 1912 – 6 June 1916 |
|
President |
Sun Yat-sen Yuan Shikai |
Succeeded by | Feng Guozhang |
Personal details | |
Born | 19 October 1864 Huangpi, Hubei, Qing Dynasty |
Died | 3 June 1928 Tianjin, Republic of China |
(aged 63)
Political party |
Republican Party Progressive Party |
Military service | |
Allegiance |
Qing Dynasty 1889–1911 Republic of China 1911–1912 |
Service/branch |
Beiyang Navy Hubei Provincial Army Tongmenghui (1911) |
Battles/wars |
First Sino-Japanese War Xinhai Revolution |
Li Yuanhong (Chinese: ; pinyin: Lí Yuánhóng; courtesy name Songqing 宋卿; Huangpi, Hubei, October 19, 1864 – Tianjin, June 3, 1928) was a Chinese general and politician during the Qing dynasty and the republican era. He was three times president of the Republic of China.
A native of Huangpi, Hubei, he was the son of a Qing veteran of the Taiping Rebellion (黎朝相). He graduated from the Tianjin naval academy in 1889 and served as an engineer in the First Sino-Japanese war. His cruiser was sunk and he survived because of his life belt, since he could not swim. He later joined the Hubei New Army and became senior military officer in Hankou. In 1910, he attempted to break up revolutionary rings that infiltrated his 21st Mixed Brigade. He did not arrest anyone caught in subversive activities, but simply dismissed them.
When the Xinhai Revolution of 1911 broke out, the Wuchang mutineers needed a visible high-ranking officer to be their figurehead. Li was well respected, had supported the Railway Protection Movement, and knew English which would be useful in dealing with foreign concerns. He was reportedly dragged from hiding under his wife's bed and forced at gunpoint to be the provisional military governor of Hubei despite killing several of the rebels. Though reluctant at first, he embraced the revolution after its growing momentum and was named military governor of China on November 30. Qing Premier Yuan Shikai negotiated a truce with him on December 4.