Late Qing and early Republican diplomat posted to Russia, Japan and France, acting premier in 1926
Born in Wuxing, Zhejiang, in 1863, he learned English, French and Russian at the Shanghai Interpreters' College and became a juren in 1888. In 1890 he went to the legation in London with Xue Fucheng, then served in Washington and St Petersburg, becoming minister to Russia in 1902 and to Japan in 1908. As vice-minister of foreign affairs in Yuan Shikai's cabinet in 1911, he helped persuade the Qing court to hand power to the Republic. Under the Republic he was acting foreign minister in 1912, minister to France, Spain and Portugal, and from 1920 minister to Japan, and he also sat as an arbitrator of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague. In 1926 he became foreign minister in Jia Deyao's cabinet, and from April to May, after Duan Qirui fell, he led the regency cabinet as acting premier. He died of illness in Beiping in 1933.
Also known as: Hu Wei-te
Activities and affiliations
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1902–1911
Qing dynasty state institutionsMinister to Russia and to JapanMain
Diplomacy and international organization -
1912–1922
Beiyang government and warlordsMinister to France and to Japan
Diplomacy and international organization -
1926
Beiyang government and warlordsMinister of Foreign Affairs
Diplomacy and international organization -
1926
Beiyang government and warlordsActing PremierHeads of state, government and party of China
Political and party leadership
Career Timeline
- 1888Passed the provincial examination (juren)
- 1890Student interpreter at the legation in London
- 1902.07–1907.09Minister to Russia
- 1908.03–1910.05Minister to Japan
- 1911.10–1912.02Vice-Minister and acting Minister of Foreign Affairs
- 1912.03Director of Customs Affairs; acting Minister of Foreign Affairs
- 1912.11–1920.09Minister to France (also Spain and Portugal)
- 1920.09–1922.06Minister to Japan
- 1926.03–05Minister of Foreign Affairs
- 1926.04.20–05.13Acting Premier; exercised the presidency as head of the regency cabinet
- 1927.01–06Minister of the Interior