Duan Qirui

Duan Qirui, born on March 6, 1865, was a prominent Chinese statesman and general who played a pivotal role in the political landscape of early twentieth-century China. As the last leader of the Beiyang Army, he commanded significant respect among warlords and the populace alike. His political career was marked by his tenure as Premier of China on four separate occasions between 1913 and 1918, and he served as the acting Chief Executive of China from 1924 to 1926.

A graduate of the Tianjin Military Academy, Duan furthered his military education in Germany, where he honed his skills as an artillery commander under the influential Yuan Shikai. Following the Xinhai Revolution in 1911, which led to the fall of the Qing dynasty, he ascended to the roles of minister of war and premier within Yuan's cabinet. Notably, Duan opposed Yuan's attempts to restore the monarchy, and after Yuan's death, he maintained control over northern China as premier.

During his leadership, Duan was embroiled in political strife, particularly with southern parliamentarians led by Sun Yat-sen. In 1917, he played a crucial role in quelling another monarchy restoration attempt and was instrumental in aligning China with the Allies during the First World War. His negotiations with Japan, which included a series of loans and the controversial Sino-Japanese Joint Defence Agreement, bolstered the Anhui Clique and set the stage for his ambitions in southern China.

However, his dealings with Japan and the subsequent decisions made at the Treaty of Versailles, particularly regarding Shandong, ignited the May Fourth Movement in 1919. Following his defeat in the 1920 Zhili–Anhui War, Duan was ousted from power. He returned from retirement in 1924 to lead the Beiyang government but was again deposed after the Anti-Fengtian War. Ultimately, Duan Qirui retired to Tianjin and later settled in Shanghai, where he passed away on November 2, 1936.