Gonbee Yamamoto

Gonbee Yamamoto (1852 - 1933) was an Imperial Japanese Navy officer and twice Prime Minister of Japan. He is often considered the father of the Imperial Navy as a modern force.

Early life

He was born in Kagoshima, the home of the Satsuma Clan, as the son of a samurai of the Kagoshima Clan, and participated in fighting against the British bombardment of Kagoshima in 1863. After participating in the Boshin War, he graduated from the Japanese Naval Academy in 1874.

Naval

He became a specialist in gunnery and training methods, and commanded several warships. Moving into the naval command, he naval posts such as chief officer of the Navy Ministry and vice navy minister in the Imperial Headquarters. In 1893, he created a Naval Staff, independent of the Army General Staff.

In 1895, he became chief of the Bureau of Naval Affairs, from when he served as navy minister (1906-1913) for the second Yamagata cabinet, fourth Ito cabinet and first Katsura cabinet, and became navy admiral in 1904. He was thus the Navy Minister during the Russo-Japanese War.

Government

In 1913, he became prime minister, succeeding Katsura, but resigned as a result of the Siemens scandal. Makoto Saito continued as Navy Minister from the Katsura cabinet. In 1923, he became prime minister again, following Tomosaburo Kato, but resigned, this time because of the Toranomon Incident. Keigo Kiyoura replaced him as Prime Minister.