Tang Shaoyi

唐紹儀
Beiyang government and warlords Liberalism and republicanism China China 1862–1938 ✕ Assassinated by Juntong agents

Diplomat who became the Republic of China’s first premier, broke with Yuan Shikai and joined the southern government

Born in Xiangshan County, Guangdong, he studied in the United States with the Chinese Educational Mission until the recall of 1881 cut short his time at Columbia. Working in the Korean customs he became close to Yuan Shikai, and in the Xinhai Revolution he negotiated with Wu Tingfang in Shanghai as Yuan’s representative. He became the Republic’s first premier in March 1912 and joined the Tongmenghui, but resigned within three months, disillusioned by Yuan’s disregard for law. He joined the southern Constitutional Protection government, yet opposed Sun Yat-sen’s Extraordinary Presidency in 1921 on constitutional grounds. He sat on the Kuomintang Central Supervisory Committee from 1925 and governed his home county of Zhongshan from 1929. Staying in occupied Shanghai, he was suspected of dealing with the Japanese and assassinated by Juntong agents in 1938.

Also known as: Tong Shao-yi · T'ang Shao-i

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