Profession: General, President and Emperor of the Republic of China
Biography: Yuan Shikai was a Chinese military official who rose to power during the final decline of the Qing Dynasty. While Yuan made some efforts to prevent the dynasty's collapse, his involvement in its affairs was mixed, having worked against the more sweeping plans of the Hundred Days' Reform.
After working to modernize certain elements of China, in particular its bureaucratic and military apparatus, Yuan then forced the abdicate of the last monarch of the Qing line. He then served as President of the Republic of China from 1912 to 1915.
Yuan finally finagled his way to briefly being Emperor of the short-lived Empire of China (1915-1916), declaring himself to be the Hongxian Emperor. He died shortly after abdicating his rule.
Born: September 16, 1859
Birthplace: Xiangcheng, Henan, Qing dynasty, China
Star Sign: Virgo
Died: June 6, 1916 (aged 56)
Cause of Death: Uremia (kidney failure)
Historical Events
- 1913-03-22 Song Jiaoren, leader of the Chinese Kuomintang Party, shot at Shanghai Railway Station, dies 2 day later (thought orchestrated by Kuomintang President Yuan Shikai)
- 1913-04-26 Sun Yet San calls for revolt against President Yuan Shikai in China
- 1913-09-01 Zhang Xun's Wuwei Corps captures Nanjing on behalf of Emperor Yuan Shikai in the Republic of China's Second Revolution, ending Chinese independence and causing Sun Yat Sen to flee to Japan
- 1913-10-10 Yuan Shikai installed as the 1st President of China
- 1914-05-01 Yuan Shikai's cabinet replaces China's provisional constitution with a constitutional compact granting the President dictatorial powers over China's military, finances, foreign policy, and the rights of Chinese citizens
- 1916-06-06 The death of Yuan Shikai, ruler of much of China since 1912, causes central government to virtually collapse in the face of pressure from warlords, and from political reformers including Sun Yat-Sen
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