Li Hongzhang

Li Hongzhang
李鴻章
Li Hongzhang wearing the Breast Star of a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order, 1896
Grand Secretary of the Wenhua Hall
In office
January 9, 1875 (1875-01-09) – November 7, 1901 (1901-11-07)
Grand Secretary of the Wuying Hall
In office
January 16, 1872 (1872-01-16) – January 9, 1875 (1875-01-09)
Assistant Grand Secretary
In office
August 27, 1868 (1868-08-27) – June 22, 1872 (1872-06-22)
Viceroy of Zhili and Beiyang Trade Minister
In office
July 8, 1900 (1900-07-08) – November 7, 1901 (1901-11-07)
Preceded byYulu
Succeeded byYuan Shikai
In office
August 29, 1870 (1870-08-29) – August 28, 1895 (1895-08-28)
Preceded byZeng Guofan
Succeeded byWang Wenshao
Viceroy of Liangguang
In office
May 24, 1900 (1900-05-24) – July 9, 1900 (1900-07-09)
Preceded byTan Zhonglin
Succeeded byTao Mo [zh]
Viceroy of Huguang
In office
February 2, 1867 – August 29, 1870
Preceded byGuanwen
Succeeded byLi Hanzhang [zh; ja; ko]
Viceroy of Liangjiang
(acting)
In office
May 23, 1865 (1865-05-23) – October 27, 1866 (1866-10-27)
Preceded byZeng Guofan
Succeeded byZeng Guofan
Personal details
Born(1823-02-15)15 February 1823
Hefei, Qing Empire
Died7 November 1901(1901-11-07) (aged 78)
Beijing, Qing Empire
Spouse(s)Lady Zhou
Lady Xiaolian
Lady Mo
Relations
EducationJinshi degree in the Imperial Examination
OccupationOfficial, general, diplomat
AwardsOrder of the Double Dragon
Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order.[1]
Grand Cross of the Order of the Red Eagle.[2]
Signature
Military service
Allegiance Qing Dynasty
Branch/serviceQing Army
RankGeneral
CommandsBeiyang Fleet
Huai Army
Battles/warsTaiping Rebellion
First Sino-Japanese War
Li Hongzhang
Traditional Chinese
Simplified Chinese鸿
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinLǐ Hóngzhāng
Wade–GilesLi3 Hung2-chang1
IPA[lì xʊ̌ŋ.ʈʂáŋ]
Yue: Cantonese
JyutpingLei5 Hung4-zoeng1
Liang Shitai. Portrait of Li Hongzhang. 1878. Albumen silver print. The Loewentheil Photography of China Collection.
Li Hongzhang (middle) with Lord Salisbury (left) and Lord Curzon
Photographic portrait of Li Hongzhang by Baoji Studio, Shanghai. Date unknown.
Woodcut of Li Hongzhang with Otto von Bismarck (left) in Friedrichsruh in 1896.

Li Hongzhang, Marquess Suyi (Chinese: 李鴻章; also Li Hung-chang; 15 February 1823 – 7 November 1901) was a Chinese statesman, general and diplomat of the late Qing dynasty. He quelled several major rebellions and served in important positions in the Qing imperial court, including the Viceroy of Zhili, Huguang and Liangguang.

Although he was best known in the West for his generally pro-modern stance and importance as a negotiator, Li antagonised the British with his support of Russia as a foil against Japanese expansionism in Manchuria and fell from favour with the Chinese after their defeat in the First Sino-Japanese War. His image in China remains controversial, with criticism on one hand for political and military defeats and praise on the other for his success against the Taiping Rebellion, his diplomatic skills defending Chinese interests in the era of unequal treaties, and his role pioneering China's industrial and military modernisation. He was presented the Royal Victorian Order by Queen Victoria. The French newspaper Le Siècle described him as "the yellow Bismarck."

  1. ^ Antony Best, "Race, Monarchy, and the Anglo-Japanese Alliance, 1902–1922,"Social Science Japan Journal 2006 9(2):171–186
  2. ^ Meng, Hong, Chinese in Germany at the end of the Qing-Dynasty, Page 3