Finance official called the father of the New Taiwan dollar, who succeeded Chiang Kai-shek as president
Born in 1905 to a prominent Soochow family in Jiangsu, he studied chemistry at St. John’s University in Shanghai. As finance director of Fujian during the war against Japan he abolished more than 70 miscellaneous taxes and introduced the collection of land tax in grain. Arriving in Taiwan in 1945, he became provincial finance director and chairman of the Bank of Taiwan, and in 1949 issued the New Taiwan dollar, ending hyperinflation. After serving as minister of economic affairs and of finance, he was premier from 1963 to 1972 and vice-president from 1966. When Chiang Kai-shek died in 1975 he succeeded as president and served out the term until 1978, while real power lay with Chiang Ching-kuo. He died in 1993.
Also known as: Yan Jiagan
Activities and affiliations
-
1946–1949
Republic of China state institutionsFinance Director of Taiwan Province
Economy, finance and planning -
1950–1963
Republic of China state institutionsMinister of Economic Affairs; Minister of Finance
Economy, finance and planning -
1954–1957
Republic of China state institutionsGovernor of Taiwan Province
Government and administration -
1963–1972
Republic of China state institutionsPresident of the Executive YuanHeads of state, government and party of China
Political and party leadership -
1966–1975
Republic of China state institutionsVice President
Government and administration -
1975–1978
Republic of China state institutionsPresident of the Republic of ChinaHeads of state, government and party of ChinaMain
Political and party leadership -
–1993
Political and party leadership
Career Timeline
- 1926Graduated in chemistry from St. John’s University, Shanghai
- 1938Director of Reconstruction, Fujian
- 1939Director of Finance, Fujian
- 1945.10.16Director of Transportation, Taiwan Provincial Administration
- 1946–1949.12Finance Director of Taiwan Province; Chairman of the Bank of Taiwan
- 1949.06.15Issued the New Taiwan dollar
- 1950.01–03Minister of Economic Affairs
- 1950.03–1954.06Minister of Finance
- 1954.06–1957Governor of Taiwan Province
- 1957–1958Chairman of the Council for United States Aid
- 1958.03–1963.12Minister of Finance
- 1963.12.16–1972.06.01President of the Executive Yuan
- 1966–1975.04.05Vice President
- 1975.04.05–1978.05.20President