Jin Yunpeng

Beiyang government and warlords 1877–1951 ○ Died in Tianjin

Beiyang general, one of Duan Qirui’s “four guardians”, who became premier with Zhili and Fengtian backing

A native of Zou County, Shandong, he graduated from the Tianjin Military Academy, became a Beiyang staff officer, served as chief counsellor of the Yunnan New Army and escaped during the Kunming uprising of 1911. He became military governor of Shandong in 1914 and was counted among Duan Qirui’s “four guardians”. In 1918 he concluded the Sino-Japanese joint defence military agreement, and in 1919 he went from minister of war to premier that September. Raised with Zhili and Fengtian support, he broke with the Anfu Club and, beset by financial troubles, stepped down in May 1920. After the Anhui clique lost the Zhili–Anhui War he became premier again in August, but with the treasury empty he gave way to Liang Shiyi in December 1921. He then ran mining and textile businesses in Tianjin, stayed there after the founding of the People’s Republic and died in 1951.

Also known as: Chin Yun-peng