Who's Who in China (3rd edition)/Liu Kuan-hsiung

Admiral Liu Kuan-hsiung

劉冠雄字資穎

Admiral Liu Kuan-hsiung was born at Ming-hou Hsien, Fukien Province, in 1858. He was graduated from the Naval School in Fukien and subsequently was sent to England for higher education. Admiral Liu attended the Royal Naval College at Greenwich where he graduated. Upon his return to China, he was given a commission in the Imperial Chinese Navy. Shortly after his joining the navy, the Sino-Japanese War (1894-95) broke out and Admiral Lu participated therein. At the Battle of the Yulu he distinguished himself and was afterwards rewarded for his bravery by the Manchu Emperor. Since that time up to the breaking out of the First Revolution, he held various naval offices, from a non-commissioned officer to the commander of a squadron. When the first republican government was formed following the successful issue of the revolution in 1911, Admiral Liu was appointed Minister of Navy as a reward for his services to the republicans during the critical moment of the epoch-making event. He was a member of the National Council in Nanking. Upon Yuan Shih-kai’s election to the Presidency, he was elected a member of the Southern delegation sent to Peking to convey congratulations. In March 1912 Lu was appointed Minister of Navy in Tang Shao-i's Cabinet. For a few days in June he also acted as Minister of Education. He was Minister of Navy from July to September in Lu Tseng-hsiang's Cabinet. During July 1912 he also acted as Minister of Communications. He held the portfolio of navy in Chao Ping-chun's Cabinet 1912 to July 1913; in Hsiung Hsi-ling's Cabinet from August 1913. In August 1913 he was appointed to hold concurrently the post of High Inspecting Commissioner of the Southern Sea. In December 1913 he was appointed to be Military Governor of Fukien Province. Admiral Liu was Minister of Navy in Sun Paochi's Cabinet from February 1914 to April 1914; in Hsu Shih-chang's Cabinet from May 1914 to April 1916; and in Tuan Chi-jui's Cabinet from April 1916 until the overthrow of Yuan Shih-kai's monarchical movement. Admiral Liu played an important part in this movement. For that reason he was obliged to leave the cabinet upon the collapse of the movement and the subsequent death of Yuan Shili-kai. For one year he lived a private life in Tientsin. In June 1917 occurred the monarchical movement of Chang Hsun. This movement also failed. In July 1917 Marshal Tuan Chijui, who had effected the overthrow of the movement, became Prime Minister, Admiral Liu became Minister of Navy again. This post he held until November 1919 through many changes of premiers. In January 1920 Admiral Liu was awarded the First Order of Merit, having received the highest civil and military decorations already. In June 1921 he received the appointment to investigate the opium plantation in the province of Fukien. In November 1922 Admiral Liu became Pacification Commissioner to Fukien specially delegated by the Peking government. In April 1923 he was appointed High Commissioner of Coastal Defence for Fukien and Kuangtung which position he is still holding.