Mr. Yuan Hsi-t'ao was born at Pao-shan Hsien, Kiangsu province, in 1867. He became a Provincial Graduate in 1897. He taught in the College of Modern Languages, Shanghai. In 1904, he helped in the founding of the Lung-men Normal College, Shanghai, of which he was for sometime a professor. In 1907 he became the president of that college and at the same time he was appointed a councillor of the Educational Bureau of Kiangsu. In 1909 he was made Chief Executive Secretary of the Educational Bureau of Chihli. In 1912 Mr. Yuan became a department chief of the Ministry of Educational Inspector for the whole country under the same Ministry. In 1914 he resigned from the Ministry of Education and then made a tour throughout the different provinces to investigate educational conditions of his own accord. In October 1915 he was appointed Vice-Minister of Education. He resigned from this post in June 1916 but was again appointed to it in August 1916. In May 1919 he was ordered to act as Minister of Education. In June 1919 he resigned from the Ministry of Education in consequence of his failure to quiet down the students movement against the pro-Japanese officials in the government service and also against Japan's aggression in China in general. After his resignation he went abroad for travel and study. He returned to China in 1923 and has been since that time devoting himself to educational works of this country, being the leading member of the several educational associations.
