Hu Weide

Hu Weide was a Chinese diplomat and politician who served as the premier of the Republic of China in 1917. He was a member of the Tongmenghui, the revolutionary alliance led by Sun Yat-sen, and participated in the Xinhai Revolution that overthrew the Qing dynasty. He was also a close associate of Yuan Shikai, the first president of the republic, and held various positions in his government, such as the minister of foreign affairs and the minister of internal affairs. He was elected as the premier by President Li Yuanhong in 1917, but resigned shortly after due to the political turmoil caused by the warlord Zhang Xun's attempt to restore the Qing dynasty. He was appointed as the premier again by President Feng Guozhang in 1918, but faced many challenges, such as the Warlord Era, the May Fourth Movement, and the rise of the Kuomintang. He tried to maintain the stability and sovereignty of China, but his efforts were hampered by the lack of central authority and the interference of the foreign powers. He resigned in 1918 and lived in retirement until his death in 1933. He was also a leader of the Anfu Club, a political faction that opposed the Zhili and Fengtian Cliques. He was involved in several important diplomatic negotiations, such as the Treaty of Shimonoseki that ended the First Sino-Japanese War, and the Boxer Protocol that ended the Boxer Rebellion. He was known for his pragmatism and his moderate views. He was the father of Hu Shi, a famous scholar and reformer.