Yuan Shikai

Yuan Shikai (traditional Chinese: 袁世凱; simplified Chinese: 袁世凯; pinyin: Yuán Shìkǎi; Wade–Giles: Yüan2 Shih4-k'ai3; 16 September 1859 – 6 June 1916) was a Chinese general and statesman. As leader of the Beiyang Army, he played a decisive role in securing the abdication of the Qing court. He served as the second provisional president and the first formal president of the Republic of China, with his administration known as the Beiyang government. He declared himself Emperor of the Chinese Empire in December 1915 but was forced to abdicate in March 1916.

Born to an affluent Han family in Xiangcheng county, Yuan failed the imperial examinations in his early years and instead joined the Huai Army, with which he was stationed in Joseon (Korea) in 1882. He was appointed imperial resident and supreme adviser to the Korean government after thwarting the Kapsin Coup in 1885. He was recalled to China in 1894 and tasked with training of the New Army the next year, which laid the foundation for his Beiyang Army. Yuan joined a reformist society and played an active role in both the Self-Strengthening Movement and the late Qing reforms, including the abolition of the imperial examination system in favor of modern education. However, the Hundred Days' Reformists accused him of betrayal for tipping Ronglu off to their coup plan, which brought Yuan into Empress Dowager Cixi's favor. Promoted to Viceroy of Zhili in 1902, Yuan expanded the Beiyang Army into the best trained and most effective military force in China. Upon Cixi's death, he was dismissed by Prince Regent Zaifeng.

Following the Wuchang Uprising in October 1911, the Qing court recalled Yuan from retirement and appointed him Prime Minister of the Imperial Cabinet. Yuan's Beiyang Army engaged in brief fighting with Sun Yat-sen's revolutionaries before opening negotiations, brokering a deal whereby Sun would step aside in Yuan's favor if Yuan secured the abdication of the Qing court. As a result, Yuan was elected provisional president of the Republic of China, before he became the president.