Yuan Shikai ( Yuan Shih-k'ai) (b. 16 Sept. 1859, d. 6 June 1916). President of the Republic of China 1912–16 Born in Henan Province into an aristocratic family, he entered military service and went to Korea, where he distinguished himself as commander and army reformer. Returning at the head of a well-organized army, his support was important in the accession to power of the Empress Dowager Cixi in 1898. For this, he was promoted to become governor of Shandong (1899–1901). He then moved up in government ranks, until he was President of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1907–9). Throughout, he was the regime's strongest personality, and carried out substantial army and educational reforms. He was dismissed from office after Cixi's death, but remained an influential figure, particularly because of the size and strength of his army. He was recalled by the royal house to become Prime Minister after the outbreak of the
Wuchang Revolution. In this office, he persuaded the advisers of
Pu Yi that he should abdicate, for which feat he demanded the presidency of the new Republic. However, he betrayed his republican allies by attempting to create a dynasty himself, and expelling other political leaders such as
Sun Yat-sen. His army proved insufficient for him to create a strong government, since he lacked any broader political platform. It had proved strong enough, however, to destroy the Wuchang Revolution, so that his death left a power vacuum which subjected China to an era of
warlordism until
Chiang Kai-shek's Northern Expedition.
