Li Hongzhang

Li Hongzhang, Marquess Suyi (Chinese: 李鴻章; also Li Hung-chang; February 15, 1823 – November 7, 1901) was a Chinese statesman of the late Qing dynasty. He held important positions in the Qing government, including the Viceroy of Zhili, Huguang and Liangguang. He was the founder and commander of the Huai Army and the Beiyang Fleet, and a leader of the Self-Strengthening Movement. One of the best-known Chinese figures of his time internationally, Li was the face of the Qing court in foreign affairs and was often called the "Oriental Bismarck." He antagonized the British by supporting Russia as a counterweight to Japanese expansion in Manchuria, and later fell out of favor domestically following China's defeat in the First Sino-Japanese War. His legacy in China remains controversial, particularly over his role in suppressing several uprisings, his diplomatic record amid Western powers, and the mixed outcomes of his industrial and military modernization efforts. Nonetheless, Li Hongzhang is a renowned figure in Hong Kong as he is seen as one of the founding fathers alongside Qishan, Keying, Henry Pottinger, and Charles Elliot.