Yan Huiqing

Yan Huiqing (Chinese: 顏惠慶; Wade–Giles: Yen Hui-Ch'ing, also Weiching Williams Yen or simply W.W. Yen; 2 April 1877 – 24 May 1950) was a Chinese diplomat and politician who served under the Qing Dynasty, the Republic of China and the People's Republic of China. He held the title of jinshi in the imperial bureaucracy. Notably, he served briefly as Premier and later President of the Republic of China in the 1920s, and, shortly before his death, became a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

Yan Huiqing
Acting President of the Republic of China
In office
13 May 1926 – 22 June 1926
Prime MinisterHimself
Preceded byHu Weide (acting)
Succeeded byDu Xigui (acting)
Premier of the Republic of China
In office
13 May 1926 – 22 June 1926
Acting
PresidentHimself
Preceded byHu Weide
Succeeded byDu Xigui
In office
14 September 1924 – 31 October 1924
PresidentCao Kun
Preceded byWellington Koo
Succeeded byHuang Fu
In office
11 June 1922 – 5 August 1922
PresidentLi Yuanhong
Preceded byZhou Ziqi
Succeeded byTang Shaoyi
In office
25 January 1922 – 8 April 1922
PresidentXu Shichang
Preceded byLiang Shiyi
Succeeded byZhou Ziqi
In office
18 December 1921 – 24 December 1921
Acting
PresidentXu Shichang
Preceded byJin Yunpeng
Succeeded byLiang Shiyi
Personal details
Born(1877-04-02)2 April 1877
Shanghai, Qing Dynasty
Died24 May 1950(1950-05-24) (aged 73)
Political partyAnhui clique
EducationUniversity of Virginia (B.A.)
Peiyang University (D.Litt.)

Biography

A native of Shanghai and a graduate of the University of Virginia (where he studied political science, received prizes and medals for debate, and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa), he taught English at St. John's University, Shanghai for a short time after coming back from the United States, where he became a Freemason, and then went to Beijing to start his political career.[1] In 1906, he became an editor at the Commercial Press, received a D.Litt. from the Peiyang University (now Tianjin University) and the title of jinshi in the imperial civil service, and was appointed to the Imperial Ministry of Education.

He served as Foreign Minister,[2] premier (and acting premier) five times and as acting president during his last premiership in 1926. Wu Peifu handpicked him for the acting presidency to pave the way for Cao Kun's restoration, and he set up a cabinet in anticipation,[3] but he was unable to take office due to Zhang Zuolin's objection. When Yan finally took his post, he immediately resigned and appointed navy minister Du Xigui as his successor.

A veteran diplomat, he was China's first ambassador to the Soviet Union,[4] and a delegate to the Washington Naval Conference[5] and the League of Nations; he also served as a diplomat to Germany, Sweden, Denmark, and, finally, the United States,[6] where he denounced the Japanese invasion of Manchuria.[7] During World War II, he translated and compiled Stories of Old China in Hong Kong while under Japanese house-arrest in 1942. In early 1949 he visited Moscow and met with Joseph Stalin, in hopes of negotiating a solution in the Chinese Civil War.

After the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, he congratulated Mao Zedong on his victory, became a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and he was also appointed Vice Chairman of the East China Military and Political Committee.

On May 24, 1950, Yan Huiqing died of heart disease in Shanghai at the age of 73. Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai both sent condolences. He was survived by his wife and six children.[8]

References
  1. Biographical Dictionary of Chinese Christianity Yan Huiqing Bio Retrieved February 22, 2015
  2. "Yen Makes Way for Koo at Peking". The New York Times. 1922-05-29. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2018-03-09.
  3. "NEW CABINET RULE IS SET UP IN PEKING; Group Will Act Without President of Republic, Backed by Wu and Chang Armies. DR. W.W. YEN IS PREMIER Wellington Koo Gets Finance Portfolio and Sze Is Slated for Foreign Minister". The New York Times. 1926-05-14. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2018-03-09.
  4. "NEW CHINESE ENVOY ARRIVES IN MOSCOW; Dr. Yen Doubts Soviet Will Join League's Committee of 19 -- Sees Hard Task Before Him". The New York Times. 1933-03-06. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2018-03-09.
  5. "CHINA'S DELEGATES START.; Dr. Yen, Foreign Minister, Will Be Chief Representative in Washington". The New York Times. 1921-09-30. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2018-03-09.
  6. "DR. YEN SAYS JAPAN CHALLENGES WORLD; New Chinese Envoy at Washington Holds Tokyo Has Designs on Manchuria". The New York Times. 1931-12-21. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2018-03-09.
  7. Yen, W. W (1932-03-27). "WHAT MANCHURIA MEANS TO CHINA'S FUTURE; Minister Yen Advances the Republic's Needs as Against Those of Japan". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2018-03-09.
  8. "DR. W.W.YEN DIES; CHINESE DIPLOMAT; Former Premier and Foreign, Minister Had Been Envoy to U.S., Britain and Russia". The New York Times. 1950-05-26. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2018-03-09.
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