Li Hongzhang

Li Hongzhang, Marquis Suyi, was a Chinese statesman of the late Qing dynasty who held important positions including Viceroy of Zhili, Huguang, and Liangguang. He founded and commanded the Huai Army and the Beiyang Fleet, and was 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 following China's defeat in the First Sino-Japanese War; his legacy remains controversial, particularly regarding his role in suppressing uprisings, his diplomatic record, and the mixed outcomes of his modernization efforts.