Who's Who in China (3rd edition)/Wang Chan-yuan

Marshal Wang Chan-yuan

王占元 字子春

Marshal Wang Chan-yuan was born at Kuan Hsien, Shantung province, in 1860. He was graduated in the first class of the Peiyang Military Academy and served in the Siano-Japanese War, 1894-95. Later he was enggaged by Yuan Shih-kai to train the modern army at Hsiao Chan. He was engaged by Yuan Shih-kai to train a modern army at Hsiao Chan. He started as a captain commanding Anhui troops. Subsequently he was promoted to be a colonel and then to Bridagier-General. Upon the outbreak of the First Revolution October 1911 Marshal Wang accompanied Feng Kuo-chang to Wuchang when the latter was in command of the First Imperial Army to suppress the revolt. He was responsible for the recapture of the city Hanying from the revolutionaries on November 27, 1911. Upon the establishment of the Republic in 1911, he was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Second Army Division. In 1913 he was made a General and was at the same time awarded the Second Class Wenfu Decoration. In October 1915 Marshal Wang was created a Chiangchun, or Member of College of Marshals, with Chang Wei as special title. In December 1915 he was ordered to act as Chiangchun (Military Governor) of Hupei in which province his Second Division had been hitherto stationing. In January 1916 he was appointed Chiang-Chun of Hupei. In July 1917, after the death of Yuan Shih-kai he was appointed Tuchun of the same province, "Tuchun” being the new denomination of military governor. In the same month he was ordered to hold concurrently the Civil Governorship of Hupei. In October 1917 he was awarded the Second Order of Merit, and in January 1920 the First Order of Merit. In June 1920 Marshal Wang was appointed High Inspecting Commissioner of Hunan and Hupei. In October 1920 he was made a Marshal with Chang Wei as special title. In May 1921 he attended the Tuchun's Conference at Tientsin. Upon his return to Wuchang he was confronted with serious difficulties as a result of the mutiny of portions of his forces at Wuchang and Ichang and was therefore, officially relieved of his office in August 1921. Since that time, he has been living in retirement at Tientsin.