Yuan Shikai

Yuan Shikai (Traditional: 袁世凱; Simplified: 袁世凯; pinyin: Yuán Shìkǎi; Wade-Giles: Yüan Shih-k'ai) was born September 16, 1859 in Chenzhou (陳州府) within Henan province and died on June 5, 1916. He was a important military officer and politician during the later years of the Chinese Qing Dynasty. He was instrumental in arranging the abdication of the child Emperor Puyi. After the fall of the Qing Empire, Yuan Shikai was elected President of the new Republic of China on February 14, 1912. However, he did not gain the full support of the majority Kuomintang (KMT) party which was led by Sun Yat-sen. In 1913, the KMT tried unsuccessfully to depose Yuan through revolution. Yuan crushed the KMT opposition and strengthened his control of China. With the strong advice of his supporters both domestic and international, on the 12th of December 1915 he announced his intentions to be Emperor of China starting form the 1st of January 1916. However revolts in the country saw him lose support. The rites for his coronation were delayed and on March 22 the idea of Yuan as Emperor was dropped. His opposition continued to call for his resignation as President. On June 5th 1916, Yuan died from kidney failure and uremia. After his death, with no recognised government, China fragmented and entered its Warlord Era.