Li Yuanhong

Li Yuanhong
Li Yuanhong
黎元洪
	Li c. 1915
President of the Republic of China
	In office; 11 June 1922 – 13 June 1923
Preceded by	Zhou Ziqi
Succeeded by	Gao Lingwei
	In office; 7 June 1916 – 17 July 1917
Preceded by	Yuan Shikai
Succeeded by	Feng Guozhang
Provisional Vice President of the Republic of China
	In office; 1 January 1912 – 6 June 1916
President	Sun Yat-sen; Yuan Shikai
Succeeded by	Feng Guozhang
Personal details
Born	19 October 1864; Huangpi, Hubei, Great Qing
Died	3 June 1928 (aged 63); Tianjin, Zhili, Republic of China
Political party	Republican Party; Progressive Party
Alma mater	Beiyang Naval College
Awards	Order of Rank and Merit; Order of Wen-Hu; Order of the Golden Grain
Military service
Allegiance	Qing dynasty; 1889–1911; Republic of China; 1911–1912
Branch/service	Beiyang Navy; Hubei Provincial Army; Tongmenghui (1911)
Battles/wars	First Sino-Japanese War; Xinhai Revolution

Li Yuanhong (Chinese: 黎元洪; pinyin: Lí Yuánhóng; courtesy name Songqing 宋卿; October 19, 1864 – June 3, 1928) was a prominent Chinese military and political leader during the Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China. He was the first Vice President of China from 1912 to 1913 as well as the president of the Republic of China between 1916 and 1917, and between 1922 and 1923.

He was born in Huangpi, Hubei. Li initially pursued a military career, graduating from the Tianjin Military Academy in 1896. His leadership and military acumen quickly earned him recognition, leading to his involvement in significant historical events, including the 1911 Revolution that ended over two thousand years of imperial rule in China. Li's role in the revolution, particularly his reluctant yet crucial leadership of the Wuchang Uprising, established him as a key figure in the new Republic.

In the early years of the Republic, Li held several important positions, including serving as Vice President and later as President. His tenure was marked by efforts to stabilize the new republic amidst internal strife and external pressures. His first presidency (1916-1917) ended abruptly due to a coup by the warlord Zhang Xun, who attempted to restore the Qing Dynasty. Li was restored to the presidency in 1917 but struggled to assert control in the fragmented political environment.

Li's later years were spent in relative obscurity after retiring from political life following his second term as president. He continued to be respected for his contributions to the establishment of the Republic of China and his commitment to constitutionalism and national unity. Li died in Tianjin, leaving behind a legacy of cautious yet principled leadership during one of China's most turbulent periods. His efforts to bridge the old imperial order and the new republican era are remembered as a testament to his dedication to his country.