Chen Qimei

Chen Qimei

Chen Qimei (simplified Chinese: 陈其美; traditional Chinese: 陳其美; pinyin: Chén Qíměi) (January 17, 1878 – May 18, 1916) was a Chinese revolutionary activist, close political ally of Sun Yat-sen, and early mentor of Chiang Kai-shek. He was as one of the founders of the Republic of China, and the uncle of Chen Guofu and Chen Lifu.

Born in Wuxing, Zhejiang, China, he went to Japan for studies in 1906, and there joined the Chinese Tongmenghui. Befriended by fellow Zhejiang native Chiang Kai-shek, in 1908, Chen brought Chiang into the Tongmenghui.

In 1911, after the Wuchang Uprising, Chen's forces occupied Shanghai. He was then made military governor of the region. He fled to Japan with Sun Yat-sen upon the failure of the revolution against Yuan Shikai's dictatorship. They subsequently formed the Chinese Revolutionary Party, later became the Kuomintang, or the Chinese Nationalist Party. Returning to Shanghai for another round of revolution, Yuan had him assassinated on May 18, 1916. The assassination was believed to have been carried out by Zhang Zongchang, a general loyal to Yuan.

Chen is perceived as one of the early revolutionary heroes and one of the founding fathers of the Republic of China. He was also the eldest member of which later came to known as the Chen Family, one of the four most powerful and influential families at the time. The university which had originally named after him had become a part of today's Fudan University and Zhejiang University after the Chinese Civil War. A monument of him is located in Huzhou, Zhejiang, China.

See also

• Republic of China

External links

• Chen Qimei, photo

Persondata
Name	Chen, Qimei
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	January 17, 1878
Place of birth
Date of death	May 18, 1916
Place of death