Who's Who in China (3rd edition)/Chang I-lin

Mr. Chang I-lin

張一麐字仲仁

Mr. Chang I-lin was born at Soochow, Kiangsu Province, in 1865. When he was thirteen years old, he passed the Prefectural Examination and obtained the rank of "Salaried Licentiate." At the age of twenty he passed the Provincial Examination and became a Chu Jen or "Provincial Graduate."

Mr. Chang served, from that time on, for a number of years as private tutor to scholars from all over the country. He can count many prominent men as his former pupils.

In 1899, the 25th Year of Emperor Kuang Hsu, the Imperial government held a special examination for high talented men. Mr. Chang was recommended by the Kiangsu authorities to attend it. He passed the examination with his name on the "Excellent Class" and was made an Expectant Magistrate.

Mr. Chang's literary talent attracted the attention of Yuan Shih-kai who invited him to be his secretary when he became Viceroy of Chihli in 1902. By that time Mr. Chang was editor of the Peiyang Law Journal. Later he was promoted to be Viceroy Yuan's Chief Secretary. In that capacity he helped the reorganization of the Chihli educational system along modern lines.

In 1907 Mr. Chang followed Yuan to Peking when the latter was appointed president of the Board of Foreign Affairs and a Chun Chi Ta Ch'en (Lord of the Privy Council). Mr. Chang still served as Yuan's Secretary. In January 1909 Yuan Shih-kai was dismissed. During Yuan Shih-kai's exile from that time to December 1911, Mr. Chang served as secretary first to Governor of Chekiang and then to Governor of Kiangsu.

When Yuan Shih-kai became President in 1912, Mr, Chang was appointed Chief of the Secretariat of the President's Office. In May 1914 Mr. Chang was appointed to hold concurrently the position of Chief of the Bureau of High Confidence in the Cabinet Office.

In October 1915 Mr. Chang left the President Office as an expression of his disapproval when Yuan Shih-kai aspired to be emperor, and would not listen to his advice. However he was at the same time appointed Minister of Education. In April 1916 he resigned from that post and retired to private life.

In November 1916, Feng Kuo-chang, who was then elected Vice-President invited Mr. Chang to be his Chief Secretary which office he accepted. When Feng became Acting President in August 1917, Mr. Chang became Chief Secretary of the President's Office again. He served in this position until August 1918 when Hsu Shih-chang was elected President by the "The Tuchun's Parliament."

From that time on until May 1922 Mr. Chang was Advisor to President Hsu Shih-chang. In August 1921 Mr. Chang was elected member of the Kiangsu Provincial Assembly. In November 1922 he was conferred the First Order of Tashou Paokuang Chiaho.