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General Li Yuan-hung was born at Huang-pi Hsien, Hupei Province, in October 1864. He studied at the Peiyang Naval College, Tientsin, where he graduated in 1888 after having undergone a course of six years. Subsequently General Li served on a crusier during the Sino-Japanese War, 1894-95, and the late Admiral Chen Pi-kuang was his chief at that time. After the War he was engaged in service at Nanking by Viceroy Chang Chih-tung. During his stay at Nanking he was in charge of the reconstruction of the Nanking Fort and Commander of the Nanking Fortification. Upon the transfer of Chang Chih-tung to Wuchang to become the Viceroy of Hu-Kuang Provinces, General Li accompanied him thither. There he in co-operation with many German military officers assisted in the organization and training of the modern troops called Tzu Chiang Chun. In 1897 General Li was sent to Japan to study he military organization and educational conditions of that country. This trip lasted about a year. In 1899 he went to Japan again and served in the Imperial Metropolitan Troop Divisions. Upon his return to China in 1898, General Li became a major in the cavalry and subsequently held several commands, including that of the 21st Brigade. In 1902 General Li was sent to Japan to witness the Imperial Manoeuvers. In 1903 he was appointed Commander of the Four Infantry Regiments for the protection of the Provincial Capital of Hupei. In 1904 he became Commander of the Second Imperial Army Division stationed at Hupei Province. Concurrently General Li then held several other positions such as Commander of the Yangtze Fleet, co-director of the Hupei Military College, director of the Hupei Arsenals and director of Wu Chung College. In the autumn of 1906 he was appointed Commanding Officer of the 8th Imperial Army Division which part cipated in the Changteh Manoeuvres. Upon the outbreak of the First Revolution on October 10, 1911, General Li was forced to accept the comnyand of the revolutionary forces thus becoming the Tutu of Hupei. He directed their operations against the imperial army. In January 1912 a Provisional government was formed in Nanking. Dr. Sun Yat-sen and General Li Yuan-hunng were elected President and Vice-President of the Republic respectively. General Li was mainly instrumental in arranging for the Shanghai Peace Conference which resulted in the abdication of the Manchus and the establishment of the Republic of China. On February 15, 1912 Yuan Shih-kai was elected Provisional President to succeed Dr. Sun Yat-sen. General Li remained as Vice-President. He was appointed to be concurrently Chief of the General Staff and Military Governor of Hupei, with his headquarters at Wuchang. General Li was made a Full General in September 1912. In June 1913 he was appointed to hold concurrently the post of Tutu or Military Governor of Kiangsi upon the dismissal of General Li Lieh-chun, a Kuomingtang member from the Tutuship in connection with the Second Revolution. General Li resigned from the Tutuship of Kiangsi in September 1913. In October 1913 the First Parliament elected Yuan Shih-kai and Li Yuan-hung the First President and the First Vice-President of the Republic respectively. In December 1913 General Li was relieved from the Tutuship of Hupei. He went to Peking in the same month to assume the office of Chief of the General Staffs. In January 1914 Yuan Shih-kai dissolved the First Parliament. In May 1914 the National Advis-