Feng Guozhang

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Feng Guozhang
Acting President of the Republic of China
In office 6 August 1917 – 10 October 1918
Preceded by	Li Yuanhong
Succeeded by	Xu Shichang
Vice President of the Republic of China
In office 7 June 1916 – 1 July 1917
President	Li Yuanhong
Preceded by	Li Yuanhong
Succeeded by	Post abolished (Li Zongren in 1948)
Personal details
Born	(1859-01-07)7 January 1859 Xinhai Revolution Second Revolution National Protection War Manchu Restoration Warlord Era

Feng Guozhang, (

Early life

Feng Guozhang was born to a real estate family in Hejian, Hebei (Zhili). His family had fallen on hard times and was forced to sell its properties to educate its sons; however being the fourth son, Feng was unable to complete his education due to costs.^[1] He reputedly had to survive part of his early life by playing the violin in theatres.^[2]

Early career

Without much recourse, Feng enlisted in the army, then undergoing reforms that would eventually create the Beiyang Army under the command of Yuan Shikai. Feng performed admirably and came to the notice of a battalion commander, who referred him to the Baoding Military Academy.^[2] It was at Baoding where he would make key friends and allies who would serve him well later on. In 1895 Feng was sent to Tokyo to serve as a military attaché and came to the attention of Yuan Shikai, who began to groom him to be one of his supporters within the Beiyang Army. However, when Yuan was forced to retire in 1908 by Manchu nobles fearful of his growing power, Feng managed to maintain a good relationship with both sides.^[2]

In October 1911, after the outbreak of the

Politics

Feng broke with Yuan Shikai when he later attempted to make himself emperor. Yuan Shikai made Feng a duke, but Feng declined. Yuan then sent an admiral to assassinate Feng but the admiral was himself murdered. Feng then moved to Nanjing, where he joined the National Protection War. His name was prominently missing from the list of proposed successors in Yuan's will.

Feng then served as vice president under

He was sworn in as

On August 14 China entered

He was given a state funeral and buried in his native Hejian county of Cangzhou, Hebei. Half a century later his tomb was desecrated during the Cultural Revolution.

Descendants

• 馮高鳴; Edward Feng: Traditional Chinese Medicine Licensure Trainer; Feng Chi-Shan's first son, and Feng Guozhang's grandson.
• 馮道復; Peter Feng: politics professor; Edward Feng's son, Feng Chi-Shan's first grandson; and Feng Guozhang's great grandson.
• 馮道行; Dao-Shing Feng: IT engineer; Edward Feng's son, Feng Chi-Shan's grandson; and Feng Guozhang's great grandson.
• 馮道芬; Karena Apple Feng: political consultant; Edward Feng's daughter, Feng Chi-Shan's first granddaughter; and Feng Guozhang's great granddaughter.

Relatives

• 馮起山; Chi-Shan Feng: Shanghai-British commissioner of police, chief inspector, Feng Guozhang's son-in-law.

See also

• List of Warlords
• Warlord Era
• Zhili Clique
• History of the Republic of China

References

Sources

• Gray, Jack (2002). Rebellions and Revolutions: China from the 1800s to 2000. New York:
  ISBN 978-0-19-870069-2
  .

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Political offices
Preceded by Li Yuanhong	President of the Republic of China 1917–1918	Succeeded by Xu Shichang