Who's Who in China (3rd edition)/Tiao Tso-ch'ien

Dr. Philip K. C. Tyau

刁作謙字成章

(Tiao Tso-ch'ien)

Dr. Philip K. C. Tyau was born at Hsing-ning Hsien, Kuangtung province, in 1880. In 1889 he went to Honolulu where his father was a well-known merchant. In 1896 he entered St. John's University, Shanghai. After graduation from that institution in 1901 he went to London and entered a secondary school in North London to learn Latin. After one year's preparation he enrolled himself at Christ College, Cambridge University. He obtained his B. A. degree in 1905 and his LL.B. degree in 1907. Also in 1907 he became Barrister-at-law of the Middle Temple. He took his M. A. degree at Cambridge in 1908. During the interval between his graduation at Cambridge and call to the Bar he took the second year engineering course at Sheffield University. He registered himself for the LL.D. degree at the London University but had to return to China before the completion of his course. In 1907 he was appointed a secretary to the Director of the Imperial Student Mission which had charge of all the Chinese students in Europe. He succeeded to the post of Director in 1909. He returned to Peking in 1910 and entered for the examination for returned students and obtained the Chin Shih LL.D. degree. He was a successful candidate at the Palace Examination in 1911 and was appointed a Hanlin of the First Grade (Compiler of the Imperial Academy). During the Revolution in 1911-1912 Dr. Tyau took up the editorship of the Peking Daily News. When the Wai Chiao Pu (Foreign Office) was reorganised in 1912 he was appointed one of its four secretaries. In August 1912 he was appointed Councillor of the legation in London where he remained April 1916 when he was recalled by President Yuan Shih-kai for some specific duty. On his arrival at Peking in June after the President's death he rejoined the Wai Chiao Po as an Assistant Secretary. In 1917 he was appointed concurrently Assistant Secretary of the Cabinet. In April 1918 he was made Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In December 1918 he became an Acting Councillor of the same Ministry. In February 1919 he was awarded the Fourth Class Wenfu. In April 1919 be was appointed to act as Chief of the Intelligence Bureau. In May 1919 he received the Third Class Paokuang Chiaho. In August 1919 he was one of the examiners of the Diplomatic and Consular Service Examination. In February 1920 Dr. Tyau was made a Director of the Tsinghua College. In September he became a Councillor of the Foreign Office. In September 1920 he became concurrently Chief Secretary of the Peace' Treaty Discussion Commission under the Foreign Office. In October 1920 he received another concurrent position, viz Superintendent of the Diplomatic Intelligence Service. In February 1921 he was given the Second Class Tashou Chiaho. In August 1921 he was appointed Chinese Minister to Cuba. In October 1921 he was ordered to hold temporarily the post of Chief Secretary of the Chinese Delegation to Washington Conference. In January 1922 he was appointed to be concurrently Chinese Minister to Panama. This and the Cuba positions he is still holding. In May 1922 he received the Second Class Paokuang Chiaho and in October 1922 the Third Class Wenfu. Dr. Tyau is one of the few returned students who have gained laurels at out door games and have kept them up after their return to China. He was Captain of Christ College Cambridge at lawn tennis and represented Cambridge University more than once at that game although he did not play in the Oxford-Cambridge match which alone entitles a player to receive the "Blue," He was also a member of his College team at Association football and played in the University League. He was the champion of the Peking International Lawn Tennis Club and won the open singles championship at Tientsin. Dr. Tyau is a Christian and takes a great interest in Y. M. C. A. work.